A  Heart Attack is when the supply of blood is cut off to the heart muscle. This is usually caused by a clot in a coronary artery. This blockage leads to an arhythmia or irregular heartbeat which causes a decrease in the pumping function of the heart. The blockage must be treated within a few hours or the  heart muscle will die and be replaced by scar tissue. 

Each year, more than a million people in the U.S. have a heart attack and about half of them die from it. Amoung the ones that die from a heart attack almost half of them die within the fist hour of the attack. When a person is suffering a heart attack it is important that emergency treatment begins right away. The first thing to do is stop the  arrhythmias with emergency CPR and defibrillation. If the blood flow in the blocked artery can be restored in time you can prevent permanent damage to the heart. It is important that you know the symptoms of a heart attack and act quickly.

 

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body - Can include pain, discomfort, or numbness in the arms, neck, back or jaw. 

 

Shortness of breath - Difficulty breathing usually accompanied with chest pain

 

Other symptoms - May include a cold sweat, nausea or feeling light headed.