A heart attack is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when blood flow to your heart stops due to a partial or total blockage. In most cases, the blockage is a buildup of fatty substances like cholesterol and plaque, which lead to narrow arteries (atherosclerosis).

Your risk of suffering from a heart attack can be caused by several traits, lifestyle choices, and health conditions. Heart attacks are often linked to:

Being older, especially if you’re a man over 45 or a woman over 55
Smoking cigarettes or chronic exposure to secondhand smoke
Family or personal history of heart disease
High blood pressure or high cholesterol
Metabolic syndrome and diabetes
Obesity or being overweight
As a woman, your risk of having a heart attack is also higher if you developed preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy.

A heart attack does not always cause obvious signs or symptoms. You may have mild chest pain, or more severe chest pain that leaves you doubled over in pain. This pain can run down your arms and even spread into your back and neck. A heart attack can also cause:

Chest tightness or pressure
Nausea or indigestion
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Cold sweats
A heart attack can be life-threatening. Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.

After you have had a heart attack and completed any emergency medical treatment and related hospitalization, the goal of your treatment plan from Heart Disease Prevention and Training Center (HDPTC) is to prevent heart failure progression and a future heart attack.

Your heart attack treatment and prevention plan are likely going to include a combination of the following therapies:

Smoking cessation
Weight loss planning
Angioplasty and stents
Cardiac catheterization
Peripheral artery disease testing and management
High cholesterol and high blood pressure management
Edema treatments, like diuretics, especially if you have leg swelling
Cardiac rehabilitation and exercise regimen
Effective diabetes control management
Our Team is diligent about finding the right types of heart attack treatments for your needs, so you can preserve your heart health.

You can schedule your heart attack evaluation online with Just Heart Cardiovascular Group Inc., or you can call your most convenient office directly.