what happens during a heart attack
What Happens During a Heart Attack
A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is reduced or cut off, usually because a coronary artery becomes blocked by plaque and a blood clot forms. Without oxygen-rich blood, heart muscle cells start to get damaged and can die within a short time, which makes this a medical emergency.
[3][7]Quick Scoop
Here’s the basic sequence:
- Plaque builds up in a coronary artery over time. [7][3]
- The plaque can rupture or crack. [1][7]
- A blood clot forms at that spot. [1][7]
- The artery becomes partly or fully blocked. [5][1]
- Blood and oxygen stop reaching that part of the heart muscle, and the tissue begins to die. [9][3][7]
What It Feels Like
Symptoms can vary, but common warning signs include chest pressure, pain that may spread to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and lightheadedness. Not everyone has the classic “clutching the chest” version people see in movies, and symptoms can be subtler.
[10][5]Why It’s Dangerous
When part of the heart muscle is injured, it can’t pump as well. That can affect the rest of the body’s blood supply and may lead to dangerous complications such as abnormal rhythms, heart failure, or cardiogenic shock. Quick treatment matters because the longer the blockage lasts, the more heart muscle is lost.
[5][7][9]What To Do
If a heart attack is suspected, call emergency services right away. Do not try to drive yourself if you can avoid it, because treatment needs to start as soon as possible.
[3][9]Information gathered from public medical sources on the internet and portrayed here.