Definition:
A heart attack usually happens when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a coronary artery — a blood vessel that feeds blood to a part of the heart muscle. Interrupted blood flow to the heart can destroy a part of the heart muscle.
Diagnosis:
The tests the doctors order will help determine whether your signs and symptoms, such as chest pain, signal a heart attack or another condition. These tests include electrocardiogram and blood tests.
Treatment:
Medications given to treat a heart attack include: aspirin, thrombolytics, superaspirins, other blood thinning medications, pain relievers, nitroglycerin, beta blockers, and cholesterol-lowering medications.
Symptoms and Signs:
Common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include: pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes; pain extending beyond the chest to the shoulder, arm, back, or even to the teeth and jaw; increasing episodes of chest pain; prolonged pain in the upper abdomen; shortness of breath; sweating; impending sense of doom; fainting; and nausea and vomiting.
Causes:
A heart attack occurs when one or more of the arteries supplying the heart with oxygen-rich blood become blocked. These arteries are called coronary arteries and encircle the heart like a crown. Over time, a coronary artery narrows from the buildup of cholesterol. This buildup — collectively known as plaques — in arteries throughout the body is referred to as atherosclerosis.
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