Heart attack occurs when an area of the heart is deprived of necessary oxygen-supplying blood, causing that part of the heart to be injured or die. Although heart attacks may appear to come on suddenly, damage to the heart is usually years in the making.
Many attacks are caused by coronary artery disease in which the arteries that supply the heart with blood have with time become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits. When blood flow is decreased, the heart fails to receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function. Because the heart must beat continuously, any interruption in its function is life-threatening and immediate medical treatment is needed.
Sometimes the heart is damaged so severely it triggers an uncoordinated twitching of the heart muscle called ventricular fibrillation that replaces the normally smooth contractions needed to pump blood through the body. When this occurs, no blood is pumped from the heart and regular rhythm must be restored within a few minutes or death results.
The warning signs of a heart attack are uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts for more than two minutes.
Pain may be accompanied by lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath and may spread to the shoulders, neck or arms. Heart attacks can occur at anytime and only a few symptoms may be apparent.
So if you experience any of these symptoms, do not wait to see if the pain goes away - get help immediately.