If you haven't been trained in CPR , doctors recommend performing only chest compressions. If you have been trained in CPR , you can go on to opening the airway and rescue breathing. A heart attack occurs when one or more of your coronary arteries becomes blocked. Over time, a buildup of fatty deposits, including cholesterol, form substances called plaques, which can narrow the arteries atherosclerosis. This condition, called coronary artery disease, causes most heart attacks.
During a heart attack, a plaque can rupture and spill cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. A blood clot forms at the site of the rupture. If the clot is large, it can block blood flow through the coronary artery, starving the heart of oxygen and nutrients ischemia. Another cause of a heart attack is a spasm of a coronary artery that shuts down blood flow to part of the heart muscle.
Using tobacco and illicit drugs, such as cocaine, can cause a life-threatening spasm. Certain factors contribute to the unwanted buildup of fatty deposits atherosclerosis that narrows arteries throughout your body.
You can improve or eliminate many of these risk factors to reduce your chances of having a first or another heart attack. Complications are often related to the damage done to your heart during a heart attack, which can lead to:. It's never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack — even if you've already had one. Here are ways to prevent a heart attack. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced.
See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. This is her heart health story. I struggled with my weight for most of my life. I never really gave a lot of thought to being healthy or unhealthy , or about how my weight and lifestyle played a role in my future health.
But a little over 16 years ago, I had a heart attack. Back then, at…. Greg VanBellinger knew from family history that he was at risk for heart disease, but as a fitness enthusiast who stayed on top of his medical appointments, he believed his heart was in good shape. An offhand decision to participate in a fitness evaluation at Mayo Clinic, however, revealed that Greg's heart was not as [ Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Heart attack Open pop-up dialog box Close. Heart attack A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying your heart with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. More Information Heart attack symptoms. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information Heart attack prevention: Should I avoid secondhand smoke? What is meant by the term "heart age"?
A heart attack myocardial infarction or MI is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. A heart attack is a medical emergency. Call and ask for an ambulance if you suspect a heart attack.
A lack of blood to the heart may seriously damage the heart muscle and can be life threatening. It's important to know that not everyone experiences severe chest pain.
This is particularly the case with many women. The pain can often be mild and mistaken for indigestion. It's the combination of symptoms that's important in determining whether a person is having a heart attack and not the severity of chest pain. While waiting for an ambulance, it may help to chew and then swallow a tablet of aspirin ideally mg , as long as the person having a heart attack is not allergic to aspirin. Coronary heart disease CHD is the leading cause of heart attacks.
We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Some chest pain symptoms, while scary and alarming, are unlikely to signal a heart attack. An important note, though: Never assume chest pain is nothing to worry about. Given the game-ending potential of a heart attack, any chest pain deserves attention.
Some types of chest pain should send you to the emergency room — particularly if it lasts for at least five minutes. Symptoms could include new or unexplained chest pain coupled with shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, fatigue or lightheadedness.
Aside from your chest, the pain, pressure or discomfort also may radiate to your:. Lasting and unrelenting pain in these areas may signal a heart attack , or myocardial infarction, says Dr. Call to seek immediate treatment to save heart muscle. More often than not, chest pain does not signal a heart attack. The feeling — which many compare to getting an electrical shock — lasts only an attention-grabbing moment. The good news? The brief zap is usually not indicative of a heart attack, which often brings an unrelenting pain that lasts several minutes.
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