Heart Attack Conditions and Symptoms

The heart receives its oxygen supply from blood that reaches it through a series of arteries. Years of eating fatty foods, smoking or simply living cause many people's arteries to narrow with build-ups of fatty deposits known as plaque. If an arterial passageway becomes completely blocked (by either plaque or a blood clot), the heart does not receive adequate oxygen and a heart attack occurs. The sooner you recognize the symptoms and warning signs of a heart attack, the more likely you are to save your or someone else's life. While some heart attacks may prove fatal no matter what, most are treatable with prompt care.

Warning Signs

• According to the American Heart Association, most heart attacks do not hit people suddenly but rather build over time. One of the most common warning signs is pain in the middle of your chest. This pain often feels like intense pressure, squeezing or discomfort. You may also notice discomfort in other parts of your body such as your jaw, back or shoulders. Many people experience breathing problems, nausea or lightheadedness in addition to the above symptoms. The AHA warns that non-chest pain symptoms such as breathing trouble and nausea are more frequently experienced by women than men. In addition, women may experience other vague symptoms such as clammy skin, dizziness, mysterious fatigue or abdominal pain.

Treatment

• Call 911 if you experience one or more of these typical heart attack symptoms. Once doctors determine you are having a heart attack, drugs such as aspirin and heparin will be administered and you may have to undergo surgery or a variety of other procedures. If you require a bypass, the surgeon will create a new arterial pathway to your heart in order to treat the heart attack and prevent future incidents.

Cardiac Arrest

• Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition that often occurs because of an untreated heart attack. During cardiac arrest the heart no longer circulates blood throughout the rest of the body and your vital organs do not receive the blood they need. Cardiac arrest comes on suddenly and is characterized by a loss of consciousness and stopped breathing.

  If you are with someone who was complaining about common heart attack symptoms and then suddenly looses consciousness, call 911 immediately, and try to administer CPR to restore blood flow temporarily. Cardiac arrest is sometimes reversible with a defibrillator but time is of the essence to prevent irreversible organ damage or death. Note that many non-heart attack conditions such as hypothermia and hypoxia may also lead to cardiac arrest if untreated.

Coronary Artery Disease

• Coronary artery disease refers to the gradual narrowing of the blood vessels due to plaque build-up. Since the arteries clog over the course of many years, sufferers often do not notice any symptoms until blockage progresses quite far. Once symptoms do present themselves, you may experience chest pain, especially when physically active (angina). Left untreated, coronary artery disease eventually leads to a heart attack or cardiac arrest. If you begin to experience chest pain, see a doctor. She will perform diagnostic tests. Depending on the level of arterial blockage, your doctor may recommend drug therapy or resort to surgical solutions such as a heart bypass.

Prevention

• To decrease your risk of heart attack, coronary artery disease and cardiac arrest, eat a diet low in saturated and trans fats and high in good fats (e.g., polyunsaturated fats) and omega-3 fatty acids. Foods such as olive oil and fish provide heart-healthy nutrition. Increase your intake of whole grains, flax seed and oatmeal to decrease your overall cholesterol levels. The higher your cholesterol, the more likely it is that the cholesterol solids will accumulate on your arteries and lead to heart disease. In addition to diet, increase your exercise (aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day, at least four times a week), quit smoking and maintain a healthy body weight.