A heart attack, a term synonymous with myocardial infarction, occurs when the blood flow (blood supply) to a part of the heart is interrupted for a variety of reasons....CONTINUE READING
The heart, like every other muscle in the body, needs a constant “supply” of oxygen and nutrients.
The heart has three coronary arteries, two of which are large branches that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
If one of these arteries or branches suddenly becomes blocked, part of the heart cannot receive the oxygen (carried by blood) it needs to function normally, and this condition is called myocardial ischemia or ischemic cardiomyopathy.
The typical signs of a heart attack are chest pain and shortness of breath, according to the Mayo Clinic, but symptoms vary from person to person. The most common symptoms of a heart attack are:
Angina (chest pain), sometimes with a feeling of pressure in the chest (tightness in the chest).
Chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes, back pain, pain in the jaw or other parts of the upper body, or pain that subsides or recurs.
Breathlessness
Sweating or perspiration
Nausea
Vomiting
Anxiety
Coughing
Dizziness
Fast heartbeat (increased heart rate)
It is important to remember that not all people who have a heart attack experience the same symptoms, nor do they have the same severity of symptoms.
Chest pain is the most common symptom reported by both women and men. Women are more likely than men to experience the following symptoms:
Pain in the upper back
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Nausea
Vomiting
Jaw pain.
