Heart Attack Symptoms and Treatments

Each year, about one million Americans experience a heart attack, meaning one occurs every 34 seconds. St. Luke’s Health is recognized for its quality of care for patients enduring even the most severe heart attacks. If you suspect a heart attack, call 911 or seek emergency medical services immediately.

Common Symptoms of Heart Attack

Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person. The most common signs include:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Upper body pain
• Shortness of breath

Symptoms of Heart Attack in Women

In addition to the above symptoms, there are several others women are more likely than men to experience. These include:

• Stomach pain and nausea
• Back, neck, or jaw pain
• Lightheadedness
• Cold sweats
• Extreme fatigue

Heart Attack Treatments We Offer

The goals of heart attack treatment are to return blood flow to your heart muscle quickly, bring back a regular heartbeat, and give your heart time to recover. Our team offers an array of techniques and innovations to achieve this, including:

• Thrombolytic medication given through the veins to dissolve blood clots.
• Percutaneous coronary intervention, also called coronary angioplasty, using stents or a catheter with a balloon at its tip.
• Coronary artery bypass surgery or a related procedure.
• Impella DTU, a temporary pump, to relieve stress on the heart and decrease damage to the muscle.

Currently, our team is pioneering nanotechnology therapies to revolutionize the treatment of myocardial infarction.