What it is
- A heart attack occus when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked.
- A heart attack occurs when a clot forms in a blood vessel carrying oxygenated
blood to the heart muscle. If the blocked vessel is not reopened quickly,
hte muscle normaly nourished by that vessel begins to die.
- A heart attack is a "clot" problem.
Signs of a heart attack may appear immedately, the signs can last weeks
or longer and may include:
- Severe discomfort in the chest or other areas of the upper body
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweats
Typically, during a heart attack, the heart continues to pump blood.
The longer the person with a heart attack goes without treatment, the greater
the possible damage to the heart muscle.
Occasionally, the damaged heart muscle triggers an abnormal rhythm that
can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Heart attack symptoms in women can be different from those in men, and
women may be more likely to experience:
- Pain in the jaw, arms, back or neck