By Mercyhealth
A heart attack occurs when part of the heart muscle doesn’t get blood flow. As time passes without treatment, the greater the damage can be to the heart muscle.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, it’s important to call 9-1-1. Signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women and men include:
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder
• Feeling nauseous, light-headed or unusually tired
Once you arrive the hospital, tests will be performed to find out if a heart attack is happening and to decide on treatment. The chances of surviving a heart attack are better the sooner emergency treatment begins.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack. These are called risk factors. In addition, about half of all Americans have at least one of these three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking.
Some risk factors can’t be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.
For more information, visit mercyhealthsystem.org/heart, or call (888) 39-MERCY.
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