What is a heart attack?

• Your heart muscle needs oxygen to survive. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely.

• Coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood flow. They can become narrowed from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that together are called plaque.

• When plaque within a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. This blood clot can block the blood flow to the heart muscle.

• Ischemia is a condition in which the blood flow (and thus oxygen) is restricted or reduced in a part of the body. Cardiac ischemia is decreased blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. When damage or death to part of the heart muscle occurs due to ischemia, it’s called a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI).

• About every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack.

Don’t wait to get help if you experience any heart attack warning signs. Call 911. EMS can start life-saving procedures. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but others start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath. This can occur with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea , lightheadedness, or passing out (syncope).

• Save a life, don’t drive. Call 911.

As you work toward recovery, learning more about the warning signs and treatments can help you better understand what’s happened, and how your heart can heal.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack | American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack.