Questions and Answers

There are many things you can do to be healthier and reduce the risk of having a heart attack: •           eat healthily; •           be physically active; •           keep to a healthy weight and lose weight if necessary; •           don’t smoke; •           cut down on alcohol; •           control high blood pressure; •           control cholesterol levels; •           […] Read More

Certain risk factors make it more likely that you’ll develop ischemic heart disease and have a heart attack. You can control many of these risk factors. The major risk factors for a heart attack that you can control include: •           Smoking; •           High blood pressure; •           High blood cholesterol; •           Overweight and obesity; •           An […] Read More

Call 911 and start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if someone goes into cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is a condition when the heartbeat has stopped and the person isn’t responsive. CPR doesn’t restart the heart, but it keeps the person alive until medical help arrives. An easy-to-use device called an AED (automated external defibrillator) is available in […] Read More

Call 9–1–1! If you think you or someone else may be having heart attack symptoms or a heart attack, don’t ignore it or feel embarrassed to call for help. Call 9–1–1 for emergency medical care. Acting fast can save your life. Do not drive to the hospital yourself or let someone else drive you. Call […] Read More

Acting fast at the first sign of heart attack symptoms can save your life and limit the damage to your heart. Treatment works best when it’s given right after symptoms occur. Many people aren’t sure what’s wrong when they are having symptoms of a heart attack. Some of the most common warning symptoms of a […] Read More

•           Coronary Heart Disease A heart attack happens if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can’t get oxygen. Most heart attacks occur as a result of ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up […] Read More

Other names: •           Myocardial infarction (MI); •           Acute myocardial infarction (AMI); •           Acute coronary syndrome; •           Coronary thrombosis; •           Coronary occlusion. A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can’t get oxygen. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the section of […] Read More

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between unstable angina and a heart attack. Angina can be a sign of increased risk of stroke. Angina can also trigger sudden cardiac arrest. These are medical emergencies. If you think that you or someone else is having the following symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Every minute matters. […] Read More

Angina is a symptom of ischemic heart disease. Your doctor may recommend the following heart-healthy lifestyle changes to help you manage angina: • Heart-healthy eating. Following a healthy eating plan, including limiting alcohol, can prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, helping you reduce angina symptoms and maintain a healthy weight. You […] Read More

Angina raises your risk of having a heart attack. But it’s treatable. Consider it a warning sign and make healthy choices. Talk with others who have it. That may help you learn how to feel better. Your family, too, may need support to help them understand your angina. They’ll want to know what they can […] Read More