Heart attack
Is a medical condition that occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked, most commonly due to rupture of a vulnerable plaque. Heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), because part of the heart muscle (myocardium) may literally die (infarct). If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.
Signs and symptoms of heart attack
Chest pain is the most common symptom of acute myocardial infarction and is often described as a sensation of tightness, pressure, or squeezing. It can be mild or severe. Other common symptoms of heart attack include upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea vomiting or dizziness. The symptoms of angina can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Angina usually lasts for only a few minutes and goes away with rest. Angina that doesn’t go away or changes from its usual pattern (occurs more frequently or occurs at rest) can be a sign of the beginning of a heart attack.