Heart & Vascular Center

Heart Attack Symptoms

Why is heart disease so deadly?

Simply put, your heart is the organ responsible for keeping the rest of your body going. It pumps blood continuosly through your network of arteries and viens, each day beating some 100,000 times and pumping 2,000 gallons of blood. If your heart begins to malfunction, the effects on your body are immediate. And often live-threatening.

What causes the heart to malfunction?

A major cause of heart disease is the thickening and hardening of arteries, know as arteriosclerosis, that reduces the amount of space your blood has to pass through your arteries. Some hardening of arteries occurs naturally as we grow older.

One form of arteriosclerosis, called atherosclerosis, is characterized by a buildup of various substances, such as cholesterol and fats, in the inner lining of an artery. The buildup, or plaque, can restrict the blood's flow through an artery. The plaque may also rupture causing clots that can completely plug narrowed arteries and shut off blood flow. When a part of the heart muscle is cut off from its blood supply, it begins to die.

It means you're having a heart attack.

Heart attack symptoms Common in men and women:	Heart attack symptoms More likely in women:
Chest discomfort such as pressure, squeezing or pain Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms Shortness of breath sweating	Indigestion or gas-like pain Dizziness, nausea or vomiting Unexplained fatigue Back or jaw pain Sense of impending doom
Talk to your doctor to know your risks. When you experience these warning signs, call 911 or get to the nearest Mercy ER. The faster you seek treatment, the less damage will be done to your heart.