Heart attack Its Symptoms and Prevent

A heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) occurs when one or more of the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood, is blocked. A blockage usually occurs when plaque inside the coronary artery breaks open and a blood clot forms around it. See an illustration of how plaque causes a heart attack.

Symptoms of a heart attack
The most common symptom of a heart attack is severe angina, or chest pain, also described as discomfort, pressure, squeezing, or heaviness. Many people also have at least one other symptom, such as:
Pain or discomfort that radiates to the back, jaw, throat, or arm.
Discomfort in the upper abdomen, often mistaken for heartburn.
Sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
Difficult breathing, palpitations, dizziness, and fainting.
Weakness, numbness, and anxiety.
However, chest pain is not always present. In a recent review of 700 people treated for heart attack, 47% came to the emergency room because they had symptoms other than chest pain, including shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness or fainting, and abdominal pain. 1 Women, older adults, and people with diabetes are less likely to have chest pain during a heart attack and more likely to have other symptoms.

Prevent a heart attack:
Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and eating foods such as fish, fruits, vegetables, cereals, beans, grains, and olive oil (called a Mediterranean diet); taking cholesterol- and blood pressure–lowering medications; and taking a daily aspirin can help prevent a heart attack.
If you have already had a heart attack, you may be able to prevent a second one by reducing your risk factors. Your doctor will often recommend daily aspirin to help reduce your risk of another heart attack. Participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program will help you learn how to eat a balanced diet and exercise safely to reduce your risk of more heart problems.
In past decades, heart attack was thought to be mostly a male disease. However, a recent study—looking at 1,820 people hospitalized for heart attacks in Minnesota from 1979 to 1994—found that while heart attack rates for men had dropped by 8 percent, heart attacks in women had increased by 36 percent. Recently, health associations have stepped up their efforts to make women aware of their risk.