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What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to
an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary
artery. Often, this blockage leads to arrhythmias
(irregular heartbeat or rhythm) that cause a severe decrease in the
pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death. If the
blockage is not treated within a few hours, the affected heart muscle
will die and be replaced by scar tissue.
A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack
and how to get emergency help. Many people suffer permanent damage to
their hearts or die because they do not get help immediately.
Each year, more than a million persons in the U.S. have a heart attack and about half (515,000) of them die. About one-half of those who die do so within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before reaching the hospital.
Emergency personnel can often stop arrhythmias with emergency
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), defibrillation (electrical shock),
and prompt advanced cardiac life support procedures. If care is sought
soon enough, blood flow in the blocked artery can be restored in time
to prevent permanent damage to the heart. Yet, most people do not seek
medical care for 2 hours or more after symptoms begin. Many people wait
12 hours or longer.
A heart attack is an emergency. Call 9-1-1 if you think you (or
someone else) may be having a heart attack. Prompt treatment of a heart
attack can help prevent or limit lasting damage to the heart and can
prevent sudden death.
August 2003
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