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Heart attacks most often occur as a result of coronary artery disease, a condition where plaque builds up on the inside walls of the coronary arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Areas of plaque can eventually rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough it can block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery.
During a heart attack, if the blockage to the coronary artery is not treated quickly, the heart muscle will begin to die and be replaced by scar tissue. Severe problems linked to heart attack can include heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias.
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Symptoms
The most common symptom of heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for several minutes or is intermittent. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain and can be mild or severe. Heart attack pain can sometimes feel like indigestion or heartburn. Other common symptoms may include:
- Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath may occur prior to or in conjunction with chest discomfort
- Nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, fainting or breaking out in a cold sweat
Diagnosis
To diagnose a heart attack, your physician will conduct a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and solicit information about your risk factors and family history of coronary artery disease or other heart disease. In addition, your physician may order or perform diagnostic tests, which may include:
Treatment
Early treatment can prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle. Once a heart attack diagnosis is confirmed or strongly suspected, treatments to restore blood flow to the heart are started as soon as possible. Treatments include medication therapy, medical procedures (angioplasty and stenting), surgical procedures (coronary artery bypass graft) and cardiac rehabilitation.
The Heart and Vascular Center at Providence offers a variety of resources to diagnose and treat heart attack patients:
Physicians
Need current list of relevant physicians.
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