What is a heart attack?

The medical term for a heart attack is a myocardial infarction. The most common type of heart attack is caused by a thrombosis, or blockage, of one of the coronary arteries by a thrombus, or blood clot. A heart attack is also sometimes called a coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion. The blockage cuts off the blood supply to one region of the heart muscle called the myocardium. Lack of adequate blood supply damages the deprived tissue, and if the size of the infarct, or damaged area of the heart, is small, and does not impair the electrical conducting system that regulates heartbeat, the attack should not be fatal and you will have a good chance of recovery. Sometimes arteries narrow suddenly as a result of an arterial spasm, which are most commonly triggered by smoking. A spasm can occur in healthy blood vessels as well as those blocked by atherosclerosis. A severe spasm can cause a heart attack. The main symptoms of a heart attack include: Chest pain or pressure, tightness, squeezing, burning, aching, or heaviness in the chest, lasting longer than 10 minutes. The pain or discomfort is usually located in the center of the chest just under the breastbone and may radiate down the arm (especially the left), up into the neck, or along the jaw line. You may also experience: Shortness of breath Profuse sweating Dizziness Muscle weakness Nausea and vomiting A choking sensation Anxiety or a feeling of impending doom Women may experience more varied symptoms than men, including: Indigestion or gas-like pain Dizziness, nausea or vomiting Unexplained weakness, fatigue Chest pain that moves to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Recurring chest discomfort Sense of impending doom A third of all heart attacks occur with no prior warning signs.