if you have a heart attack what is the normal course of treatment

What is the standard treatment for a heart attack?

Medications to treat a heart attack might include: Aspirin. The 911 operator might tell you to take aspirin, or emergency medical personnel might give you aspirin immediately. Aspirin reduces blood clotting, thus helping maintain blood flow through a narrowed artery.Jun 16, 2020

How long do you take heart medication after heart attack?

How long you will take an antiplatelet can be between 4 weeks and 12 months and depends on the type of heart attack you have had and the other treatment you have received. It's usually recommended that you take low-dose aspirin indefinitely.

What is the treatment after a heart attack?

Often, doctors will insert a stent to keep the artery open after the surgery. Another surgery often done after a heart attack is a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This surgery helps restore blood flow to the heart muscle through the coronary arteries by routing blood vessels around the blocked area.

Can you live a long life after a heart attack?

After a first heart attack, most people go on to live a long, productive life. However, around 20 percent of patients age 45 and older will have another heart attack within five years of their first.Jun 30, 2016

What are the chances of having a second heart attack?

After surviving a heart attack, you're probably certain of this: You don't want another one. Yet, about one in five people who have had a heart attack will be readmitted to the hospital for a second one within five years. Each year, there are about 335,000 recurrent heart attacks in the United States.Apr 4, 2019

Can a heart repair itself after a heart attack?

The answer is most likely yes. The heart muscle begins to heal soon after a heart attack. It usually takes about eight weeks to heal. Scar tissue may form in the damaged area, and that scar tissue does not contract or pump as well as healthy muscle tissue.Jul 31, 2016

Does every heart attack need surgery?

Heart-related problems do not always require surgery. Sometimes they can be addressed with lifestyle changes, medications, or nonsurgical procedures. For example, catheter ablation uses energy to make small scars in your heart tissue to prevent abnormal electrical signals from moving through your heart.

How long does it take to recover from a heart attack and stent?

Recovery from angioplasty and stenting is typically brief. Discharge from the hospital is usually 12 to 24 hours after the catheter is removed. Many patients are able to return to work within a few days to a week after a procedure.Sep 10, 2015

What is the best medicine for a heart attack?

Your doctor will recommend the best combination of heart attack medications for your situation. Anticoagulant: Used to treat certain blood vessel, heart and lung conditions. Antiplatelet agent: Keeps blood clots from forming by preventing blood platelets from sticking together.

What is a heart attack called?

The type of heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI) you experienced determines the treatments that your medical team will recommend. A heart attack occurs when a blockage in one or more coronary arteries reduces or stops blood flow to the heart, which starves part of the heart muscle of oxygen.

What is partial blockage?

A partial blockage is an “NSTEMI” heart attack or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Treatments differ for a STEMI versus NSTEMI heart attack, although there can be some overlap. Hospitals commonly use techniques to restore blood flow to part of the heart muscle damaged during a heart attack: You might receive clot-dissolving drugs ...

What is PCI in hospitals?

About 36 percent of hospitals in the U.S. are equipped to use a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a mechanical means of treating heart attack. At a hospital equipped to administer PCI, you would likely be sent to a department that specializes in cardiac catheterization, sometimes called a “cath lab.”.

How do diuretics help the body?

Diuretics: Cause the body to rid itself of excess fluids and sodium through urination. Help to relieve the heart’s workload. Diuretics also decrease the buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body, such as the ankles and legs. Different diuretics remove fluid at varied rates and through different methods.

What is bypass surgery?

Bypass surgery: Treats blocked heart arteries by creating new passages for blood to flow to your heart muscle. Cardiomyoplasty: An experimental procedure in which skeletal muscles are taken from a patient’s back or abdomen. Heart transplant: Removes a diseased heart and replaces it with a donated healthy human heart.

How long does P2Y 12 last?

A second type of antiplatelet agent, called a P2Y 12 inhibitor, is usually prescribed for months or years in addition to the aspirin therapy. The type of medication and the duration of your treatment will vary based on your condition and other risk factors.

What is the treatment for a heart attack?

This is called dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

What is a heart attack called?

The type of heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI) you experienced determines the treatments that your medical team will recommend. A heart attack occurs when a blockage in one or more coronary arteries reduces or stops blood flow to the heart, which starves part of the heart muscle of oxygen.

How long does it take to get help for a heart attack?

The best time to treat a heart attack is within one hour of the onset of the first symptoms. Waiting just a couple hours for medical help may change your treatment options, increase the amount of damage to your heart muscle and reduce your chance of survival.

What to take after a heart attack?

Medications given right after the start of a heart attack may include: 1 Aspirin 2 Thrombolytic Therapy ("clot busters") 3 Heparin 4 Other antiplatelet drugs 5 Any combination of the above

What is MI in medical terms?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), is permanent damage to the heart muscle. "Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and "infarction" means death of tissue due to lack of blood supply. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

Why is blood drawn?

Blood may be drawn to measure levels of biochemical markers. These markers are found inside your body's cells and are needed for their function. When your heart muscle cells are injured, their contents --including the markers -- are released into your bloodstream.

What are the symptoms of a symtom?

Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, heartburn, nausea, sweating and more. Women’s symptoms may be different. Call 911 right way if you have symptoms. The earlier the treatment, the better the outcome. Appointments 800.659.7822.

When is a cardiac catheterization performed?

Cardiac catheterization (cath) may be performed during the first hours of a heart attack if medications are not relieving the ischemia or symptoms. The cardiac cath can directly see the blocked artery and guide the choice for which procedure (such as angioplasty, stent placement or coronary artery bypass surgery) may follow.

Why do you need an echocardiogram?

Echocardiogram (echo) An echo can be performed during and after a heart attack to learn about how your heart is pumping and identify areas of your heart that are not pumping normally. The echo is also valuable to see if any structures of the heart (valves, septum, etc.) have been injured during the heart attack.

How to reduce the risk of heart attack?

Follow an exercise plan: Moderate physical activity lowers your chances of a heart attack. It also can reduce your blood pressure and LDL or "bad" cholesterol, raise your HDL or "good" cholesterol, and help you stay at a healthy weight. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise that gets your heart pumping at least 5 days a week.

How to prevent heart attack?

The goal after your heart attack is to keep your heart healthy and lower your risk of having another heart attack. Take your medications as directed, make healthy lifestyle changes, see your doctor for regular heart checkups, and consider a cardiac rehabilitation program.

What is a heart attack called?

Heart attacks are also called myocardial infarctions (MI). "Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and "infarction" means death of tissue because of a lack of blood supply. This tissue death can cause lasting damage to your heart muscle..

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Symptoms of a heart attack include: Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing, or pain in your chest or arm or below your breastbone. Discomfort that goes into your back, jaw, throat, or arm. Fullness, indigestion, or a choking feeling (it may feel like heartburn) Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness.

How long does it take for a heart muscle to heal?

Your heart muscle starts to heal soon after a heart attack. This takes about 8 weeks. Just like a skin wound, a scar forms in the damaged area.

What happens when your heart is blocked?

If you have coronary artery disease, those arteries become narrow, and blood can’t flow as well as it should. When your blood supply is blocked, you have a heart attack.

How does bypass surgery work?

Bypass surgery: You might have bypass surgery in the days after a heart attack to restore the blood supply to your heart. Your surgeon will reroute blood flow around your blocked artery, usually using a blood vessel from your leg or chest. They can bypass multiple arteries.

What does it feel like to go to the emergency room?

If you have these symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately: Discomfort that feels like pressure, fullness, or a squeezing pain in the center or left side of your chest.

What do emergency rooms do?

Emergency rooms treat the most serious illnesses first. If you arrive with symptoms of a heart attack, they’ll see you quickly. Doctors will work to confirm your diagnosis, relieve your symptoms, and treat the problem. Depending upon your symptoms, you may have one or more of the following: Medical history.

What are the symptoms of shortness of breath?

Any of the symptoms above that come with a cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, anxiety, or indigestion. Be Prepared. You never know when you may need to go to the emergency room, so it's best to be ready.

What is an EKG?

An electrocardiogram (EKG) to diagnose a heart attack. Electrocardiographic (EKG) monitoring to screen for abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. Blood tests to confirm a heart attack. Medications, such as nitroglycerin, aspirin, and clot-busting drugs.

How long does a syringe last?

It lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. Pain and discomfort that extend beyond your chest to other parts of your upper body, such as one or both arms, back, neck, stomach, and jaw. Unexplained shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

How to prevent heart problems?

The following lifestyle changes can help ease the symptoms and prevent more serious heart problems: Avoid alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs. Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet, avoiding too much salt or fat. Exercise: Start slowly, and always warm up and cool down.

How many valves does the heart have?

The heart has four valves that open and close when the heart beats. They control blood flow through the four chambers of the heart so that blood goes in only one direction. But a valve may not close properly and lets blood through. That’s called a leaky heart valve, heart valve regurgitation or valve insufficiency.

What is a leaky heart valve?

Leaky Heart Valve (Mitral Valve Regurgitation) The heart valves control blood flow through the heart. A leaky valve doesn’t close properly and can let blood leak through. Some cases are mild, but others place stress on the heart and can cause symptoms, heart failure or cardiac arrest. If needed, there are many ways to repair or replace ...

What happens if a heart valve leaks?

Heart valve leakage/regurgitation can force the heart to work harder to do its job. The condition can lead to heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, and death. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Why does my heart valve not close properly?

A leaky heart valve doesn't close properly when the heart beats. Heart valve leakage can place extra strain on the heart and cause symptoms or even heart failure. If you have symptoms of a leaking heart valve, talk to your healthcare provider.

How to diagnose a leaky heart valve?

To diagnose a leaky heart valve, your healthcare provider will use several strategies. Diagnosis usually includes a physical exam and some heart tests. During a physical exam, the healthcare provider will: Ask you about your symptoms and how long they’ve been happening. Ask you about your medical history.

What is valve repair?

Valve repair, which often includes an annuloplasty which is a ring that is used to tighten or reinforce the leaky valve. Procedures to place a clip on the valve. Surgery to replace the leaking valve with a device made of carbon and metal. Surgery to replace the valve with one donated from a deceased human or animal.

Diagnosis

• Ideally, your doctor should screen you during regular physical exams for risk factors that can lead to a heart attack. If you're in an emergency setting for symptoms of a heart attack, you'll be asked about your symptoms and have your blood pressure, pulse and temperature checked. You'll be c…

See more on mayoclinic.org

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment