Heart Attack |
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DESCRIPTION
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A heart attack is also called a myocardial (my-o-CARD-e-ul) infarction (in-FARK-shun), or MI for short. It is the leading cause of death in America. A heart attack occurs when an artery in the heart is blocked or has spasms. As a result, that part of the heart does not get enough blood or oxygen. It then becomes injured or dies.
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SYMPTOMS
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The most common one is chest pain. It may feel crushing, tight, or heavy. It may spread to the neck, jaw, shoulders, back, or left arm. The pain may also feel like indigestion or burning, occurring under the breastbone. Other common signs are trouble breathing; sweating; nausea and vomiting; having pale, cool skin; and feeling light-headed or weak. Some people have no symptoms at all. This is called a ""silent'' MI or heart attack.
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CARE
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You will be given pain medicine, hooked up to a TV-type monitor (ECG), and given oxygen. Other tests also will be done to find out why you had a heart attack. If you arrive within 12 hours of your first pain, you may be given medicine to help break up the clots that are blocking the arteries in your heart. If the arteries are cleared of clots, there will be no more damage to your heart. This is why it is important to go to the nearest hospital if you think you are having a heart attack.
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COMPLICATIONS
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s Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in America. If you are not treated, you may have another heart attack or even die. The sooner you get care, the less damage you may have to your heart.
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