Overview
A heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked long enough to injure or destroy heart tissue. The blockage is often related to a buildup of fatty material in the coronary arteries and a blood clot. A heart attack is not the same as cardiac arrest, although a heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms often include chest pain, pressure, tightness, heaviness, or squeezing that may last more than a few minutes or come and go. Pain or discomfort may spread to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw. Other warning signs can include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, unusual fatigue, or a feeling that something is very wrong. Some people have milder or less typical symptoms, especially women, older adults, and people with diabetes.
Causes and Risk Factors
Most heart attacks happen when a coronary artery becomes blocked, usually after a fatty plaque breaks open and a clot forms. Risk rises with smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, low physical activity, ongoing stress, and unhealthy eating patterns. Older age and a family history of early heart disease can also increase risk.
Who Is Affected
Heart attacks can affect adults of any sex, though risk generally rises with age. People with heart disease risk factors are more likely to have one, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. People who have already had a heart attack or stroke are also at higher risk of future events.
Prevention
Many heart attacks can be partly prevented by lowering cardiovascular risk factors. Not smoking, being physically active, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular medical care can help. Taking prescribed medicines exactly as directed by a healthcare professional is also important for people with known heart disease or risk factors.
Diagnosis and Tests
Healthcare teams diagnose a heart attack using symptoms, a physical exam, and urgent tests. Common tests include an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests that look for heart muscle injury, and imaging or procedures to assess blood flow in the heart. Rapid diagnosis helps guide emergency treatment.
Treatment Categories
Treatment aims to restore blood flow, limit heart damage, and prevent complications. Hospital treatment may include medicines and procedures to open blocked arteries, such as coronary angiography and procedures that improve blood flow. After the emergency phase, ongoing care often includes cardiac rehabilitation, treatment of risk factors, and long-term follow-up.
Living With It
Recovery after a heart attack can take time and may affect physical health, mood, work, and daily routines. Follow-up care is important to monitor heart function, reduce future risk, and support recovery. Some people benefit from supervised rehabilitation programs that include exercise, education, and emotional support.
Diet and Lifestyle
Long-term lifestyle changes can help support heart health after a heart attack. Helpful steps often include stopping tobacco use, choosing more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and healthier fats, being physically active as advised by a healthcare professional, sleeping well, and limiting alcohol if used. Stress management and social support can also be part of recovery.
When It May Be an Emergency
Call emergency services immediately if you or someone else has chest pain, pressure, or tightness that lasts more than a few minutes, or if it happens with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, or jaw. Do not drive yourself if emergency medical help is available. If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, begin CPR if you are trained and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available.