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.