Heart Attack: Symptoms & Causes - Mayo Clinic

Overview

• A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is severely reduced or blocked.
• Blockage typically results from a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in coronary arteries, known as plaques.
• Plaques can rupture, forming clots that block blood flow, potentially damaging or destroying heart muscle.

Heart Attack Details

• Also known as myocardial infarction.
• Occurs when an artery to the heart is blocked.
• Causes tissue death in the heart due to lack of blood flow.
• Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent death.

Symptoms

• Vary among individuals, can be mild to severe, or absent.
• Common symptoms include:
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Pain spreading to shoulders, arms, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or upper abdomen
  • Cold sweat, fatigue, heartburn, indigestion, lightheadedness
  • Shortness of breath
• Women may experience atypical symptoms like sharp pain in neck, arm, or back.

When to Seek Help

• Call emergency services immediately if a heart attack is suspected.
• Take prescribed nitroglycerin and aspirin if recommended.

CPR Instructions

• Call 911 for an unconscious person suspected of having a heart attack.
• Begin CPR if no breathing or pulse is detected:
  • Untrained: Perform hands-only CPR at 100-120 compressions per minute.
  • Trained: Start with 30 compressions followed by two rescue breaths.

Causes

• Mainly caused by coronary artery disease.
• Blocked coronary arteries due to cholesterol-containing plaques.
• Can result from acute complete (STEMI) or partial blockage (NSTEMI).
• Other causes include coronary artery spasm, infections, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Risk Factors

• Age (men 45+, women 55+)
• Tobacco use
• High blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides
• Obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome
• Family history of heart attack
• Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, stress
• Illegal drug use, preeclampsia, autoimmune conditions

Complications

• Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms
• Cardiogenic shock: Heart fails to pump blood
• Heart failure: Heart muscle tissue damage
• Pericarditis: Inflammation around the heart
• Cardiac arrest: Sudden heart stop, can lead to death

Prevention

• Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle: Avoid smoking, maintain healthy weight, exercise, and manage stress.
• Manage health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Take medications as prescribed.
• Learn CPR and how to use an AED.

Additional Information

• Mayo Clinic offers newsletters and further resources on heart health.
• Numerous references and guidelines available for deeper understanding and research.