

Heart attack warning signs and symptoms: chest, head, jaw, and tooth pain Chest discomfort, manifest as pain, fullness, and/or squeezing sensation of the chestĬhest pain is the hallmark symptom of a heart attack, although it can take many different forms. If you or someone you know is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately for an ambulance.ĭrugs that treat heart attacks include, for example, aspirin, nitroglycerin, clot-busting drugs, percutaneous coronary intervention, medical procedures, cardiac rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and lifestyle changes. Heart attacks that are treated early can prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle. What are the treatments and therapies for heart attacks? Blood pressure during a heart attack can be low, normal, or elevated. Blood pressure is not a reliable measurement of whether one is having a heart attack. In order to optimally benefit heart attack victims and limit the extent of heart damage, these treatments to open blocked arteries should be given early during a heart attack. Heart attacks are diagnosed with procedures such as coronary angiogram and PTCA (coronary balloon angioplasty), and clot-dissolving drugs are available that can quickly open blocked arteries in order to restore circulation to the heart and limit heart muscle damage.

What exams, procedures, and imaging tests diagnose heart attacks? Each year, about 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. Heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. How many people have heart attacks each year? The 1% to 10% of heart attack victims who die later include those victims who suffer major damage to the heart muscle initially or who suffer additional damage later. Those who reach the emergency room have an excellent prognosis survival from a heart attack with modern treatment should exceed 90%. Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room. What are the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack?Ĭhest pain or pressure is the most common symptom of a heart attack however, people who are having a heart attack may experience a variety of conditions that include jaw pain, sweating, heartburn, shortness of breath, jaw pain, toothache, headache, and nausea and vomiting. Death of the heart muscle, in turn, causes chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue. The loss of blood supply is usually caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery, one of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Heart Attack illustration - Myocardial Infarction What is a heart attack?Ī heart attack is the death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply.
