A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to part of the heart is blocked. This eMedTV article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment of heart attacks and provides links to additional resources.
As this eMedTV article explains, the cause of a heart attack is a severely narrowed or completely blocked coronary artery that causes a decrease in oxygen and nutrients to the heart. This Web page describes these and other factors in detail.
As this eMedTV article explains, the link between having a heart attack and smoking tobacco is clear -- smoking greatly increases your risk of having a heart attack. This page offers the latest statistics on smoking and heart attacks.
Cholesterol and heart attacks are linked; high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart attacks. This eMedTV article discusses cholesterol and heart attacks in detail and explains how high cholesterol can lead to a heart attack.
As this eMedTV resource explains, warning signs of a heart attack include chest pain, pain that spreads to other parts of the body, and shortness of breath. This article discusses how to recognize the warning signs, so you can get help right away.
Nausea, shortness of breath, and chest pain are some of the possible early symptoms of a heart attack. As this eMedTV article explains, however, some people don't experience any pain. This page takes an in-depth look at other early symptoms.
Possible symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain in the jaw or left shoulder. This eMedTV article discusses these symptoms in detail and provides a detailed list of signs that may indicate you are having a heart attack
If you have chest pain, you may wonder if you're having heartburn or heart attack symptoms. This eMedTV Web page talks about the differences between these two conditions and explains what to do if you're not sure about which one you're experiencing.
Doctors diagnosing heart attacks will ask questions, perform a physical exam, and perform tests. This eMedTV segment discusses the tests doctors use when diagnosing heart attacks, such as EKGs, blood tests, and nuclear scans.
As this eMedTV article explains, heart attack treatment options include medications to dissolve blood clots and procedures such as angioplasty and open heart surgery. This resource discusses the various treatment options for a heart attack.
Types of heart attack medication include thrombolytic drugs, beta blockers, nitrates, and anticoagulants. This eMedTV Web page provides details about other forms of heart attack medication and explains how these medicines are used.
When you leave the hospital, your heart attack recovery period is just beginning. This section of the eMedTV library explains the importance of lifestyle changes, cardiac rehabilitation, and medications for a successful recovery.
Knowing your risk factors for heart disease or heart attack is the first step in heart attack prevention. This eMedTV article describes actions to take when trying to avoid heart attacks, such as monitoring your health and making lifestyle changes.
As this eMedTV article explains, studies on aspirin and heart attacks indicate that the drug may reduce the risk of heart attacks. This eMedTV article discusses aspirin and heart attack in detail, including who should and should not take the drug.
There is a mistaken belief that heart attacks can only occur in men. This eMedTV article debunks this misconception about heart attacks and women; in fact, women make up half of all heart attack deaths.
As this eMedTV article explains, symptoms of a heart attack in women can include chest pain, nausea, and an indigestion-type sensation. This page describes several symptoms and explains how they may differ from the classic symptoms seen in men.
