Heart Attack

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack happens when the blood supply to your heart stops or is significantly blocked. If your heart doesn’t receive blood, it doesn’t get the oxygen it needs, which can quickly damage or kill your heart muscles. When the muscle stops working, you have a heart attack.

What causes a heart attack?

The leading cause of a heart attack is coronary artery disease. In this condition, you develop a hardening of the arteries. It occurs from a buildup of cholesterol plaque along your blood vessel walls.

When your blood vessel walls become unstable, they can form a blood clot, interrupting the blood flow to your heart.

What are the warning signs of a heart attack?

Heart attack symptoms range from mild to severe. Some people have a heart attack with no symptoms at all.

Signs of a developing heart attack include:

• Chest pain
• Chest tightness
• Fatigue
• Severe heartburn or indigestion
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Cold sweats

If you experience heart attack symptoms, see your doctor at Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC right away. They can prevent more severe complications with early treatment.

How can I prevent a heart attack?

The team at Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC takes a preventive approach to your health care. They work closely with you to monitor the condition of your heart with prevention plans that include:

• Improved nutrition
• Routine exercise
• Weight loss
• Diabetes management when needed
• Medications for blood pressure or cholesterol when needed

Making changes to your lifestyle can be the beginning of getting your heart back into shape.

How is a heart attack treated?

If you have a heart attack, call 911. When you arrive at the hospital, the emergency medical team might treat you with medication to dissolve the blood clot causing the blockage. They could also do a heart angioplasty and place a stent in the affected blood vessel.

After your discharge, the team at Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC can provide the follow-up care you need to make a successful recovery. They develop a customized treatment plan to support your diet, exercise routine, and stress management.

The team could also prescribe medications to thin your blood, prevent blood clots, lower your blood pressure, ease or eliminate chest pain, and reduce the stress on your heart.

If you don’t go to the hospital but have concerns about your heart, the team monitors your heart and blood vessels using echocardiograms. If they find artery blockages, they can treat you with a heart catheterization.

Call Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC today or book an appointment online to learn more about comprehensive care for your heart.