Heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage is most often by a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the coronary arteries. The interrupted blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle. Having a heart attack is a life-threatening emergency. If you believe you have heart attack, call 911 or emergency number immediately. Symptoms of heart attack including chest pain (which may radiate to neck, jaw or back), nausea, shortness of breath, cold sweat, or sudden dizziness. However, heart attack symptoms vary hugely from people to people. The more signs and symptoms of heart attack you have, the more likely you are having a heart attack. Heart attack medications include aspirin, thrombolytics (clotbusters), antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel (Plavix), heparin, pain relievers such as morphine, nitroglycerin, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors. Some patients need coronary angioplasty and stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery.
How is Heart attack treated in practice?