The AHN Cardiovascular Institute is dedicated to treating diseases of the heart with comprehensive, tailored, and effective care, even in an emergent situation, which often is the case when experiencing a heart attack.
A heart attack, medically known as a myocardial infarction (MI), is a serious and potentially life-threatening event that occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or completely blocked.
Myocardial refers to the heart muscle itself, and infarction means that part of the heart muscle is dying because it's not getting enough oxygen. So, a heart attack is the death or damage of a part of the heart muscle due to a lack of blood flow.
Your heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to function properly. This blood is delivered through special arteries called coronary arteries. A heart attack occurs because of:
While some heart attacks can have gradual symptoms, many strike suddenly. Because they are so often deadly, it is important to understand what causes a heart attack and how to prevent one. Know your risk and the symptoms of a heart attack, including those unique to women, so you can get the medical treatment you need quickly.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 805,000 Americans have a heart attack each year in the U.S. Of these, 605,000 are a first heart attack, and 200,000 happen to people who have already had one.
In a moment’s notice, experienced, expert and emergent care can make all the difference. That’s AHN. Our patients experience a full spectrum of care, from emergency intervention during an active heart attack to long-term prevention and rehabilitation, all focused on improving outcomes. AHN plays a crucial role in preventing, diagnosing, and treating heart attacks. AHN's cardiovascular services are comprehensive and integrated. AHN delivers:
Some people experience a heart attack with minimal or no noticeable symptoms. This is often referred to as a silent heart attack or silent myocardial infarction. Silent heart attacks highlight the importance of regular checkups and awareness of your heart attack risk factors. Most often, however, heart attack symptoms are quite noticeable and may include:
In women, heart attack symptoms can be very different than the symptoms men experience. Women are more likely to experience less typical symptoms, which can lead to delays in seeking treatment. These different heart attack symptoms in women can include:
Several factors increase your risk of a heart attack. These include:
You can significantly reduce your risk of a heart attack through lifestyle changes and proactive health care. This includes:
Heart attacks are diagnosed through several methods.
A heart attack happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow in a coronary artery, cutting off oxygen to part of your heart muscle. This causes that part of the heart muscle to start dying.
There are different types of heart attacks. They are all serious, but they differ in how severe the blockage is and how it shows up on an EKG (a test that measures your heart's electrical activity).
This is a major heart attack. A large blood clot completely or almost completely blocks a main artery to the heart. This causes a big, obvious change on an EKG, a kind of "jump" (elevation) that shows a large area of the heart is at risk of serious damage very quickly. A STEMI needs immediate treatment.
This is a heart attack with a partial blockage of a coronary artery. The blockage isn't as big as in a STEMI, so the damage to the heart muscle is usually less. The EKG shows a problem, but not the dramatic "jump" of a STEMI. It's still a serious heart attack, though, needing prompt treatment. Think of it as a traffic slowdown — serious, but not as immediately life-threatening as a complete shutdown. Sometimes, unstable angina (chest pain getting worse and more frequent) is a type of NSTEMI.
This is a heart attack you might not even notice! You don't feel the usual chest pain or other symptoms. Doctors only discover it later, perhaps during routine checkups or other tests. Even though you don't feel it, your heart muscle is still being damaged, making this a dangerous type of heart attack.
This refers to a temporary reduction in blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. The reduction in blood flow is insufficient to meet the oxygen demands of the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain (angina) but doesn't necessarily damage the heart muscle permanently.
This type of heart attack is less common and is caused by a sudden, temporary narrowing of a coronary artery due to a spasm of the muscle in the artery wall. This can restrict blood flow to the heart, leading to symptoms similar to a heart attack, even in the absence of significant blockages.
This is a rare but serious condition where a tear occurs in the wall of a coronary artery. Blood can then flow into this tear, creating a flap that blocks blood flow. SCAD often affects younger, otherwise healthy individuals, particularly women.
All of these are heart attacks, but STEMIs are the most serious and require the fastest treatment. NSTEMIs are serious but less immediately life-threatening. Silent heart attacks are especially dangerous because you might not know you're having one.
Treatment depemds on you and your unique needs. It often focuses on restoring blood flow to the heart muscle as quickly as possible to limit damage.
These might include medications to dissolve blood clots (thrombolytics), medications to prevent further clot formation (antiplatelet agents like aspirin and clopidogrel), and medications to manage blood pressure, heart rate, and pain.
This is a minimally invasive procedure, commonly known as angioplasty or balloon angioplasty, where a small balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the blocked artery to open it. A stent (a small metal mesh tube) may be placed to keep the artery open.
This is open-heart surgery where a healthy blood vessel is grafted around a blocked coronary artery to restore blood flow. This is typically used for more extensive blockages or for patients who are not suitable candidates for PCI.
Treatment outcomes depend on several factors including:
Following a heart attack, rehabilitation programs play a vital role in improving the patient's physical function, managing risk factors, and improving their quality of life. Regular follow-up care with a cardiologist is also crucial for monitoring progress and adjusting treatment as needed. Our cardiac rehab therapy program at AHN Therapy Services can help.
Given the severity of heart attacks it’s important to know the warning signs and risk factors. Getting care quickly when you’re experiencing symptoms can make a significant difference. These frequently asked questions can help you know what to look for and know when to seek medical care.
A heart attack can manifest in various ways, and not everyone experiences the same symptoms. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort, often described as:
Other symptoms can include:
It's important to note that women, the elderly, and individuals with diabetes may experience less typical or silent symptoms, sometimes feeling only shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, or pain in the back, jaw, or stomach without significant chest discomfort. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention.
Preventing a heart attack largely involves managing risk factors and adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle. Key prevention strategies include:
Once a heart attack has started, it cannot be stopped without medical intervention. The immediate and most critical action is to call 911. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.While waiting for emergency medical help, you can take these steps:
Emergency medical personnel can provide immediate treatment, such as oxygen, nitroglycerin, and pain relief, and transport you quickly to a hospital where more definitive treatments, like angioplasty or clot-busting medications, can be administered.
The survival rate of a heart attack varies significantly based on several factors, including:
While precise, universally applicable survival rates by age can be difficult to provide due to these variables and data collection methods, here are some general observations, according to data from the National Institute of Health*:
It's important to focus on the overall trend: Advances in medical science mean that survival and recovery from heart attacks are better than ever, especially with rapid access to care.
Call (412) DOCTORS 412-362-8677 to make an appointment with your primary care provider or schedule online. During your appointment, be sure to discuss your family medical history and other heart attack risk factors you may have. If follow-up diagnostic testing is needed, your doctor will provide the necessary referrals and explain next steps.
If you don’t have a PCP, Find Care can help you find a primary care physician. You can read patient reviews, select your provider, view service locations, and appointment times then, schedule your appointment online.
If you have a referral for diagnostic testing, use our location search tool filtered for diagnostic testing, and select the test you need from the drop-down list. Then, select a convenient location from the search results and call to schedule your test.
If you are seeking a second opinion or have a referral and are ready to schedule your treatment call (412) DOCTORS 412-362-8677. You can also schedule online or see all CVI appointment options.
