Overview

Some people only know a heart attack as a “Hollywood”-type event when someone – typically a man – is suddenly slumped over and clutching their chest or falls to the ground. While this can be the case, it’s not always the case. In fact, the way a heart attack might look and feel varies a lot from person to person.

Heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, is a leading killer of men and women in the United States. The good news is that quick emergency care and treatment can save lives and help people live an active life after a heart attack.

What Causes a Heart Attack?

During a heart attack, the heart's blood supply is suddenly cut off. When this happens, the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. In a short period of time, part of the heart can be damaged or die. That's why immediate care is so important – it can spare your heart and save your life. If your heart has a lot of damage, it can be very weak.

Most often, heart attacks result from a buildup of plaque inside the coronary artery (atherosclerosis). When the plaque breaks away inside of the artery, a blood clot can form, blocking blood flow through a coronary artery. Less common causes of heart attacks include an intense spasm of the coronary artery that lasts a long time or a tear in the artery wall (called spontaneous coronary artery dissection). Both of these can reduce blood flow to the heart muscle.

Having a heart attack can be scary, and it's often life-changing. If you’ve had a heart attack, it’s important to take steps to prevent another one and keep a close watch of your heart health with your care team. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and heart failure are more likely after a heart attack. Try to make lasting changes in your day-to-day life to eat better, move your body, get to a healthy body weight, don’t smoke, and be sure to manage other risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.