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What Can You Expect After a Heart Attack?

A heart attack happens when the heart muscle does not get enough blood to do its job. Like other parts of the body, the heart muscle gets its nourishment from blood vessels. When a blood vessel is blocked and cuts off the blood supply to the heart muscle, that area of the heart muscle dies. Death of the heart muscle is called a heart attack.

Signs of a heart attack may be one or more of the following:

• Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body such as pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, which often comes with chest discomfort, but can occur before the chest discomfort.
• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Sometimes the heart area affected also carries the signal for the heart to beat. When this area is affected, the heart may beat irregularly or not at all. Cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped beating.

If you or someone you know feels chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical care. Do not wait for longer than 5 minutes before calling 911. Calling 911 is usually the fastest way to get medical help in an emergency. Early treatment may reduce the amount of damage that occurs to the heart muscle. If the pain is caused by a heart attack, the healthcare provider may want to try to dissolve the clot that is blocking the blood supply to the heart. It may also be necessary to monitor and treat any abnormal heart rhythm.

After a heart attack, it takes time for the damaged area to heal. The dead heart muscle forms a scar. During this healing process, your healthcare provider may limit your activities, such as strenuous exertion or heavy lifting.

After recovery from a heart attack, there are things that can be done to reduce the chance of another attack. These include:

• control high blood pressure
• lower high cholesterol levels
• maintain normal blood sugar levels, if diabetic
• lose weight, if overweight
• exercise regularly
• no smoking (Cigarette smoke decreases the blood supply of oxygen and contributes to cholesterol build-up in the arteries.)
• follow all instructions for medication and follow-up appointments with your provider

Check with your provider about taking low doses of aspirin. It should only be taken upon the recommendation of your doctor. This can make the blood less likely to clot and help lower the risk of another heart attack. Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

Exercise improves the heart's ability to work and may help lower the risk of a second heart attack. Cardiac rehabilitation programs are available to monitor your recovery and help you exercise safely. You will also learn to manage your heart condition and control your risk factors for heart disease. Be sure to check with your provider about starting a cardiac rehabilitation program.

For more information, speak with your family physician. If your physician would like to refer you to a cardiologist, ask for a referral to a Saint Vincent Heart Center cardiac specialist.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. HIL File CARD4291.RF2 VRS# 6101 Data Version 7.0
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