Also called a myocardial infarction, a heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is interrupted or cut off completely, depriving the heart of oxygen.

If you or a loved one have a heart attack, we’re here 24/7/365 with the care your heart needs.

The most common symptom of a heart attack is mild or strong pain in the center of the chest. Other symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Pain in one or both arms
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain
• Pain in the neck or jaw, back or shoulders (this is more common in women)
• Sudden or profuse sweating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Men and women can experience these symptoms differently. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room.

Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms that don't involve chest pain. These can include:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in the neck, jaw, back or shoulders
• Extreme fatigue
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Because these symptoms can be easy to dismiss or attribute to other conditions, women sometimes wait longer to seek care. If something feels off, don't wait — call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room.

Certain behaviors, genetics and risk factors can increase your chances of having a heart attack. These include:

• High cholesterol: Having high cholesterol levels, especially LDL or “bad” cholesterol, raises your heart attack risk.
• High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure damages and narrows your arteries, making a heart attack more likely.
• Diabetes: Having Type 2 diabetes raises your risk of a heart attack.
• Family history: If you have a family member who has had a heart attack, your risk increases.
• Smoking: Tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco, cigarettes and pipes, increases your heart attack risk.
• Age: Your risk of having a heart attack increases as you get older.
• Other risk factors: Other risk factors include being male, being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, excessive or prolonged stress and drinking alcohol excessively.

If you have symptoms of a heart attack, we’ll run tests to check if the signs, such as chest pain, indicate a heart attack or another condition.

Tests to diagnose a heart attack include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This non-invasive test uses small sensors attached to your chest and arms to record your heart’s electrical activity.
• Blood tests: These tests can also rule out any issues with your thyroid, liver or kidneys.
• Chest X-ray: This lets your doctor see the condition of your lungs and heart, and potentially rule out other causes of your symptoms.
• Echocardiogram: A wand-like device is placed on your chest and uses sound waves to create a video of your heart working.
• Cardiac catheterization: A long, thin tube is inserted into your heart for diagnostic testing and to check for any blockages. You may even be awake during this minimally invasive procedure.
• Stress test: This test involves monitoring your heart while you exercise.

There are several lifestyle changes your doctor may suggest to undo damage caused by heart disease. These include:

• Quitting smoking
• Exercise
• Change in diet
• Losing weight
• Reducing stress
• Emotional support

If you’ve had a cardiac event, you may be a good candidate for cardiac rehab.

After a heart attack, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehab to help you make heart-healthy life choices and prevent future heart issues.

In cardiac rehab you'll:

• Learn about a heart-healthy lifestyle. Our dietitians and nutritionists will help you develop healthy eating habits, learn how to manage your condition, get help to quit smoking and take other steps to improve heart health and lower risk factors.
• Begin an exercise program. Our therapists and physicians will design an exercise program to help you build strength, maintain a healthy weight and improve your cardiovascular system. They’ll monitor your progress closely to prevent injury.
• Start counseling. Stress is a risk factor for many heart conditions. Our counselors and therapists will work with you to identify what’s causing your stress and help you cope.