The heart is one of the most important muscles in the body, pumping nutrients and oxygen, which keeps the whole body functioning. Whenever something happens to block the blood flow to the muscles of the heart, the oxygen supply is cut off and the cells die (this is called an infarct). The medical name for a heart attack is myocardial infarction (MI).
Blood clots that block blood flow are the main causes of heart attacks and strokes, but they can also damage other organs. A blood clot can also dislodge from where it was formed, travel in the bloodstream (this is called an embolus) and cause blood vessel damage elsewhere in the body.
Heart attacks are responsible for many deaths every year, and 40% of people who have a heart attack do not survive. It is important to learn about heart attack symptoms, which many people experience as chest pains. It's often described as "someone is sitting on my chest." But chest pains are not the only symptom of heart attacks and not
everyone experiences chest pains.
Other heart attack symptoms include nausea, intense sweating, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, even fainting. If you experience any of these, you should seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of the three.
If you have any questions about cardiac safety, talk to your doctor.