Heart Attack Specialist

What causes heart attacks?

Heart attacks occur when the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood to function properly. Most heart attacks occur when the arteries that supply the heart with blood (the coronary arteries) are narrowed or blocked by a buildup of sticky plaques that form on the artery walls when cholesterol levels are too high. These plaques cause the arteries to become narrow and stiff, interfering with normal blood flow to the heart. Less often, a heart attack can occur when the arteries “spasm,” a condition called Prinzmetal angina. Several risk factors have been identified that make a person more likely to have a heart attack, including:

• heart disease or cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• high cholesterol
• diabetes
• a family history of heart attack or heart disease
• being overweight or obese
• smoking
• inactive lifestyle
• poor diet, including a diet high in sodium and unhealthy fats and sugars

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Heart attacks can cause many different symptoms, and these symptoms can vary from one person to another and especially between men and women. Pain in the chest and left arm are considered the most common symptoms of heart attacks, but some people may not have these symptoms at all. Other symptoms include:

• pressure or tightness in the chest
• pain in the neck, shoulder, back, belly or jaw
• profuse sweating
• nausea
• extreme fatigue
• sudden dizziness or lightheadedness
• shortness of breath

What can I do to prevent a heart attack?

Knowing your risk factors is an important part of preventing heart attacks and heart disease. Having routine preventive cardiology care ensures patients get the health screenings they need to identify risk factors so they can be treated. Quitting smoking, losing excess weight and eating a healthier diet are also important.

How are heart attacks treated?

That depends on the cause and severity of the attack. When coronary arteries are blocked, they may be treated with a minimally-invasive procedure called angioplasty which helps open clogged arteries by compressing plaques and by deploying a tiny mesh framework or scaffolding called a stent. Other patients may need open heart surgery to replace damaged arteries with arterial grafts commonly taken from the patient’s leg.