Definition: A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction (MI), happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, so the muscle does not get enough oxygen. NHLBI says that if blood flow is not restored quickly, the muscle begins to die. It is a medical emergency: anyone who may be having one should call 911 right away.
MedlinePlus says the most common cause is coronary artery disease, where plaque builds up in the heart's arteries, breaks open and a clot blocks the artery. Common signs are chest discomfort, shortness of breath and pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach, and women more often have other symptoms such as unusual tiredness. A heart attack is not the same as cardiac arrest, when the heart stops beating, though one can trigger the other. NHLBI cites the CDC figure of more than 800,000 heart attacks a year in the US.
The date of any past heart attack decides what some labels allow. Keeping it in your health notes, with your medicine list, means it is ready when a new prescription is discussed.
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