Symptoms of a heart attack include: Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn) Sweating, nausea , vomiting, or dizziness. Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath Rapid or irregular heartbeats. During a heart attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin under the tongue. Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur in anyone, but it is more common among people with diabetes.
A
heart attack, if severe, can lead to cardiac arrest, and this is what occurs
when a heart attack is fatal. However, other conditions, such as serious
arrhythmias or shock, can
also cause cardiac arrest
If a
blood clot totally blocks the artery, the heart muscle becomes
"starved" for oxygen. Within a short time, death of heart muscle
cells occurs, causing permanent damage.
Heart attack treatment
works best when it’s given right after symptoms occur. Most heart attack survivors have some degree
of coronary artery disease (CAD) and
will have to make important lifestyle changes and possibly take medication to
prevent a future heart attack and lead a full, productive life.
Many heart attacks start slowly,
unlike the dramatic portrayal often seen in the movies. A person experiencing a
heart attack may not even be sure of what is happening. Heart attack symptoms
vary among individuals
Damage to the heart muscle
from a heart attack heals by forming scar tissue. It usually takes several
weeks for your heart muscle to heal. The length of time depends on the extent
of your injury and your own rate of healing.
