Heart Attack

A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) is what happens when blood is blocked from being able to go through the arteries of the heart. While this kind of attack comes on suddenly, its cause is tied to a narrowing of the arteries called atherosclerosis, which occurs over a long period of time and can also lead to blood clots. Classic symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain and pressure that persists for more than two minutes; radiating pain that spreads from the neck, arms, and jaw down to the upper back; and fainting, nausea, sweating, dizziness and shortness of breath. People who survive a heart attack will have an injured heart muscle that can be detected with an EKG device. Recovery from a heart attack can require six weeks or more of close evaluation and medical care.