5 Facts About Heart Attacks
A heart attack is a condition that occurs when a reduced or blocked supply of oxygen-rich blood is unable to reach part of the heart muscle, resulting in cell death due to lack of oxygen in the affected area.
Heart attacks are usually caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the heart, causing the heart muscle to become deprived of oxygen-rich blood, leading to cardiac muscle death.
Anyone can suffer from a heart attack, but it is more common in people who have risk factors such as:
Symptoms of a heart attack can include:
Treatment for a heart attack typically involves taking medications to help break up the blood clot and restoring blood flow to the affected area, as well as lifestyle changes. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.
The most common symptoms of a heart attack include:
-Chest pain or discomfort, often feeling like a tightness, fullness, pressure, or squeezing
-Pain that radiates to the jaw, neck, arms, or back
-Shortness of breath
-Nausea and/or vomiting
-Lightheadedness or dizziness
-Sweating
-Extreme fatigue
-Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
5. A feeling of impending doom.