what is heart attack

A heart attack (medically known as a myocardial infarction) is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked.¹²

Causes and Mechanism

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Most heart attacks are caused by CAD, where fatty deposits called plaques build up inside the coronary arteries over time.
• Blood Clots: If a plaque ruptures or breaks open, a blood clot forms around it, partially or completely blocking the artery.
• Tissue Damage: Starved of oxygen, the affected section of the heart muscle begins to die if blood flow is not restored quickly.¹²³⁴

Common Symptoms

• Chest Pain: Squeezing, pressure, tightness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes.
• Radiating Pain: Discomfort that spreads to the arms (usually the left arm), jaw, neck, back, or stomach.
• Other Signs: Shortness of breath, cold sweats, light-headedness or fainting, nausea, vomiting, or an overwhelming sense of anxiety.
• Note: Symptoms can differ or be more subtle in women, older adults, and people with diabetes.¹²³⁴⁵

Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest

• Heart Attack: A circulation problem where blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked.
• Cardiac Arrest: An electrical problem where the heart suddenly malfunctions and stops beating altogether. A heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, but they are not the same thing.¹²

Emergency Action

If you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack, contact emergency services immediately. Guidance and detailed steps are available via the NHS Heart Attack Guide.¹²If you'd like, let me know:

• Are you asking out of general curiosity or because of specific symptoms someone is experiencing right now?
• Do you want to know more about risk factors or prevention steps?

A heart attack (medically known as a myocardial infarction) is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. Without a quick return of blood flow, the starved heart muscle begins to become damaged and die.¹²³

What Causes a Heart Attack?

Most heart attacks are caused by coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease).¹²

• Plaque buildup. Over time, fatty deposits containing cholesterol (called plaques or atheroma) build up inside the walls of the coronary arteries, narrowing them.¹²
• Plaque rupture and blood clots. If a piece of plaque cracks or breaks open, a blood clot forms around the rupture to repair the artery wall. This clot can partially or completely block blood flow through the artery.¹²
• Less common causes. A heart attack can also be triggered by a severe, sudden spasm of a coronary artery, a tear in the artery wall (spontaneous coronary artery dissection), or illegal stimulant drugs like cocaine.¹²³

Common Symptoms

Symptoms can start suddenly or build up slowly over hours or days. According to the NHS and the British Heart Foundation, key warning signs include:¹

• Chest pain or discomfort. A feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness, or squeezing across the centre of the chest.
• Radiating pain. Pain that spreads from the chest to the arms (usually the left arm, though it can affect both), jaw, neck, back, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath. Feeling winded or having trouble breathing, which can happen with or without chest discomfort.
• Other physical signs. Feeling lightheaded or dizzy, breaking out into a cold sweat, nausea or vomiting, or an overwhelming sense of anxiety.¹²³

Note: Not everyone experiences severe chest pain. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes are more likely to have milder or less typical symptoms, such as indigestion-like pain, extreme fatigue, or nausea. ¹²³

Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest

Although the terms are often confused, they are two distinct emergencies:¹²

• A heart attack is a circulation problem. Blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, though the heart usually keeps beating.
• A cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. The heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating altogether, causing the person to collapse and stop breathing. While a heart attack can trigger a cardiac arrest, they are not the same event.¹²

Emergency Action

If you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 999 immediately (or your local emergency number). Do not try to drive yourself to the hospital. While waiting for the ambulance, sit down and rest to avoid straining the heart, and chew an adult aspirin (300mg) if you are not allergic and have been advised it is safe to do so.¹

Would you like to know more about risk factors and prevention, or how doctors diagnose and treat a heart attack?

A heart attack (medically called a myocardial infarction) happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle becomes blocked. This means the heart does not receive enough oxygen, causing damage to the heart muscle.

❤️ What causes a heart attack?

Most heart attacks happen when:

1. Fatty deposits (cholesterol) build up inside the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
2. One of these deposits breaks open.
3. A blood clot forms and blocks the artery.
4. Blood and oxygen cannot reach part of the heart muscle.

Common symptoms of a heart attack

Symptoms can include:

• Chest pain: Pressure, tightness, squeezing or heaviness in the chest.
• Arm pain: Pain spreading to one or both arms.
• Back, neck or jaw pain: Discomfort in these areas.
• Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing.
• Sweating: Sudden cold sweating.
• Nausea: Feeling sick or vomiting.
• Dizziness: Feeling faint or weak.

Some people, particularly women and people with diabetes, may have less obvious symptoms.

What should you do if someone has a heart attack?

(Medical emergency)

• Call 999 immediately in the UK.
• Stop physical activity and sit down.
• Do not drive yourself to hospital.
• If the person becomes unconscious and is not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED if available.

What increases the risk of a heart attack?

• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol.
• Smoking.
• Diabetes.
• Being overweight.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Family history of heart disease.
• Unhealthy diet.

Can someone survive a heart attack?

Yes. Many people survive heart attacks, especially when they receive medical treatment quickly. Treatment may include medication, inserting a stent to open the blocked artery, or surgery.

Would you like me to explain the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? They are two different medical emergencies, and it's important to understand the difference.