A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot in a narrowed artery. It is a medical emergency: the sooner treatment starts, the more heart muscle can be saved. It is most common in older adults, smokers, and people with high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
Symptoms
Heavy, crushing or squeezing chest pain or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Pain spreading to the arm (often the left), neck, jaw, back or upper belly
Sweating and cold, clammy skin
Shortness of breath
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness, fainting or a feeling of great fear
Women, older people and people with diabetes may have only mild pain, breathlessness or tiredness
Causes
A blood clot in a heart artery already narrowed by fatty deposits
Smoking and naswar
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Being overweight and little physical activity
Family history, older age and stress
Prevention
Do not smoke or use naswar
Keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control
Talk to a doctor
Get advice by video, voice or chat without leaving home.
Eat less salt and fat, and more vegetables, fruit, lentils and beans
Be physically active and keep a healthy weight
Take heart medicines prescribed by your doctor every day
Know the warning signs and where the nearest hospital is
Treatment
Go to the nearest hospital immediately or call for emergency help — do not drive yourself
While waiting, a health worker may advise chewing an aspirin if you are not allergic to it
In hospital, treatment to reopen the artery with clot-dissolving medicine or angioplasty with a stent
Long-term medicines to protect the heart and prevent another attack
Heart rehabilitation, stopping smoking and a healthy lifestyle
Do not start or stop prescription medicines without a doctor
Common questions
Should I wait to see if the chest pain goes away?
No. With a heart attack every minute counts. If chest pain lasts more than 5 minutes or comes with sweating or breathlessness, go to a hospital straight away.
Can I live a normal life after a heart attack?
Many people return to work and normal activities within weeks to months. Taking your medicines every day, stopping smoking and staying active greatly reduce the chance of another heart attack.
