Women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack. However, heart attacks are less common in younger women than in younger men. Learn about the risk factors and causes of heart attacks, and what symptoms to look for in women, as they can be different compared with men.
Women experiencing symptoms due to blockage of coronary arteries
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Heart Attack
Human Heart revealing coronary arteries, fat surrounding heart and Pericardium peeled back / Myocardial infarction
Healthy Human Heart / Myocardial infarction
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Human Heart revealing coronary arteries, fat surrounding heart and Pericardium peeled back / Myocardial infarction
Healthy Human Heart / Myocardial infarction
Healthy Human Heart - Human Heart revealing coronary arteries, fat surrounding heart and Pericardium peeled back
Myocardial infarction - Heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a condition when blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked. Heart cells die when the blood supply is cut off; the longer the blood supply is cut off, the greater the area of heart damage.
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Heart Attack
Each year almost 800,000 Americans have a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart suddenly becomes blocked. Without the blood coming in, the heart can't get oxygen. If not treated quickly, the heart muscle begins to die. But if you do get quick treatment, you may be able to prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle. That's why it's important to know the symptoms of a heart attack and call 9-1-1 if you or someone else is having them. You should call, even if you are not sure that it is a heart attack.
The most common symptoms in men and women are
Chest discomfort. It is often in center or left side of the chest. It usually lasts more than a few minutes. It may go away and come back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It also can feel like heartburn or indigestion.
Shortness of breath. Sometimes this is your only symptom. You may get it before or during the chest discomfort. It can happen when you are resting or doing a little bit of physical activity.
Discomfort in the upper body. You may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach.
You may also have other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. You may break out in a cold sweat. Sometimes women will have different symptoms then men. For example, they are more likely to feel tired for no reason.
The most common cause of heart attacks is coronary artery disease (CAD). With CAD, there is a buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls or the arteries. This is atherosclerosis. It can build up for years. Eventually an area of plaque can rupture (break open). A blood clot can form around the plaque and block the artery.
A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery.
At the hospital, health care providers make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, blood tests, and different heart health tests. Treatments may include medicines and medical procedures such as coronary angioplasty. After a heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle changes can help you recover.
Source: NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Additional Materials (6)
What happens during a heart attack? - Krishna Sudhir
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
What causes a heart attack?
Video by multiedmedical/YouTube
Elizabeth Banks in "Just a Little Heart Attack"
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
3D Medical Animation - What is a Heart Attack?
Video by BioDigital, Inc./YouTube
Acute Myocardial Infarction - Heart Attack
Video by markivmedcom/YouTube
Heart Attack Animation
Video by Blausen Medical Corporate/YouTube
4:54
What happens during a heart attack? - Krishna Sudhir
TED-Ed/YouTube
2:54
What causes a heart attack?
multiedmedical/YouTube
3:14
Elizabeth Banks in "Just a Little Heart Attack"
American Heart Association/YouTube
0:48
3D Medical Animation - What is a Heart Attack?
BioDigital, Inc./YouTube
2:18
Acute Myocardial Infarction - Heart Attack
markivmedcom/YouTube
0:35
Heart Attack Animation
Blausen Medical Corporate/YouTube
What Is a Heart Attack?
What Is a Heart Attack?
Image by TheVisualMD
What Is a Heart Attack?
Sometimes the surface of a plaque in a coronary artery ruptures. The rupture releases substances that make platelets stickier, encouraging clots to form on the surface of the plaque. The clot can block the flow of blood through the already-narrowed artery entirely. Without blood, heart muscle tissue starts to die in what's termed a myocardial infarction- a heart attack.
Image by TheVisualMD
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack happens when blood flow to your heart muscle is blocked and the cells in your heart muscle begin to die. Many different health problems can cause a heart attack, but coronary artery disease is the most common.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (3)
This browser does not support the video element.
Women's Cardiovascular Health
Watch Dr. Mehmet Oz and other renowned cardiologists as they talk about this major killer, known in the medical world as a "myocardial infarction." Step inside the human body in a way that lets you completely understand what a heart attack is all bout, how and why they happen, what to do in the event of a heart attack, and how you can take steps to avoiding one.
Video by TheVisualMD
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) pathophysiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Heart Attack Animation
Video by Blausen Medical Corporate/YouTube
2:56
Women's Cardiovascular Health
TheVisualMD
11:49
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) pathophysiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
0:35
Heart Attack Animation
Blausen Medical Corporate/YouTube
Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest
Heart Conduction Systems
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart Conduction Systems
Heart's Electrical System
Image by TheVisualMD
What Is the Difference Between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?
A heart attack is not the same as cardiac arrest. In a heart attack, the heart keeps beating. The person has a pulse and usually stays conscious (awake). During cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating. The person has no pulse and is unconscious (not awake).
A defibrillator (dee-FIB-ruh-lay-tur) is a machine that sends an electrical shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm. This treatment must be given as soon as possible. For cardiac arrest, call 911 and begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) right away. The American Heart Association says that with "hands only" CPR, anyone can give lifesaving treatment to someone having cardiac arrest. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest and keep going until emergency personnel arrive. Do not give CPR for a heart attack.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (3)
What Happens in a Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest?
Video by Cleveland Clinic/YouTube
What's the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Signs & Symptoms: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
Video by American Red Cross/YouTube
1:08
What Happens in a Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest?
Cleveland Clinic/YouTube
2:01
What's the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
1:52
Signs & Symptoms: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
American Red Cross/YouTube
Women vs Men
Gender Differences in Heart Attacks
Image by TheVisualMD
Gender Differences in Heart Attacks
The image shows a man and woman, each with visible heart, some arteries and some skeletal bones. The man is clutching his chest as one would when experiencing severe chest pain. Women are more likely to have \"silent\" heart attacks than men are, and less likely to have severe chest pain and heart pounding. People should be aware of the heart attack symptoms common for their gender, and understand how to take action if such symptoms should arise.
Image by TheVisualMD
Do Women Do Worse Than Men After a Heart Attack?
Yes. In all age groups, women do worse than men after a heart attack. Researchers are not sure why this is, especially for younger women.
Women between 45 and 65 who have a heart attack are more likely than men of the same age to die within a year of a heart attack. However, heart attack is less common in younger women than in younger men. This is partly because the hormone estrogen protects against heart disease in younger women.
Women older than 65 are more likely than men of the same age to die within a few weeks of a heart attack. Women usually have heart attacks about 10 years later than men. The average age of a first heart attack for men is 64, but it is 72 for women.
Many women who have had a heart attack go on to lead full, active lives. Know the symptoms of a heart attack and what to do if you have any symptoms. Take steps to recover after a heart attack and prevent another heart attack.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (4)
Heart Disease Differences in Men and Women
Video by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/YouTube
Study: Women Have Harder Recovery Than Men After Heart Attack
Video by CBS New York/YouTube
Married Men and Women Have Lower Heart Attack Risk
Video by Everyday Health/YouTube
5 lies about women and heart attacks
Video by Living Better/YouTube
3:09
Heart Disease Differences in Men and Women
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/YouTube
2:16
Study: Women Have Harder Recovery Than Men After Heart Attack
CBS New York/YouTube
1:31
Married Men and Women Have Lower Heart Attack Risk
Everyday Health/YouTube
2:31
5 lies about women and heart attacks
Living Better/YouTube
Risk Factors
Woman feeling her heart looking concerned, EKG images of regular and irregular heart beat
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman feeling her heart looking concerned, EKG images of regular and irregular heart beat
Thanks to the marketing of sports drinks, most people know that electrolytes are important, even if they are not sure why. An electrolyte is a chemical compound, such as sodium chloride (table salt), that dissociates into its separate elements when dissolved. Electrolytes can be negatively or positively charged (sodium is positive, chloride is negative). This electric potential is what allows electrolytes to do their jobs, which includes the transportation of substances into and out of cells, the transmission of nerve impulses and the contraction of muscle fibers. An electrolyte imbalance can cause muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, fatigue, and confusion; heart rhythm is also sensitive to electrolyte imbalance.
Image by TheVisualMD
How Do I Know If I Am at Risk for a Heart Attack?
A heart attack can happen to anyone, woman or man, young or old. Some people are more at risk because of certain health problems, family health history, age, and habits. These are called risk factors.
You can't change some risk factors, like your age, race or ethnicity, or family history. The good news is that you can change or control many risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and unhealthy eating.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (2)
Heart Attack Symptoms and Risks in Women
Video by MassGeneralHospital/YouTube
Women's Heart Disease Risks - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
2:07
Heart Attack Symptoms and Risks in Women
MassGeneralHospital/YouTube
0:51
Women's Heart Disease Risks - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Women of Color
Living With Cardiomyopathy
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Living With Cardiomyopathy
Also called: Dilated cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Myocardiopathy, Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is the name for diseases of the heart muscle. These diseases enlarge your heart muscle or make it thicker and more rigid than normal. In rare cases, scar tissue replaces the muscle tissue.
Some people live long, healthy lives with cardiomyopathy. Some people don't even realize they have it. In others, however, it can make the heart less able to pump blood through the body. This can cause serious complications, including
Heart failure
Abnormal heart rhythms
Heart valve problems
Sudden cardiac arrest
Heart attacks, high blood pressure, infections, and other diseases can all cause cardiomyopathy. Some types of cardiomyopathy run in families. In many people, however, the cause is unknown. Treatment might involve medicines, surgery, other medical procedures, and lifestyle changes.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Image by TheVisualMD
Do Women of Color Need to Worry About Heart Attack Risk?
Yes. All women need to be aware of their heart attack risk and take steps to prevent heart disease.
African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native women often have more heart attack risk factors than white women. These risk factors can include obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
African-American women are also more likely to have a heart attack and more likely to die from a heart attack compared with white women.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (3)
Dr. LaPrincess Brewer discusses heart disease and African-American women
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Dr. John Wald on African American concern about heart health
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
African Americans and Heart Disease
Video by ProMedica/YouTube
1:20
Dr. LaPrincess Brewer discusses heart disease and African-American women
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
0:16
Dr. John Wald on African American concern about heart health
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
2:22
African Americans and Heart Disease
ProMedica/YouTube
Causes
9 Years - Aging Vessel
25 Years - Aging Vessel
50 Years - Aging Vessel
75 Years - Aging Vessel
1
2
3
4
Women's Aging Arteries
Interactive by TheVisualMD
9 Years - Aging Vessel
25 Years - Aging Vessel
50 Years - Aging Vessel
75 Years - Aging Vessel
1
2
3
4
Women's Aging Arteries
Top half of artery reflect aging well / Bottom half reflects poor life-style and accelerated plaque build-up leading to chronic diseases and early death - Image 1) 9 Years, Image 2) 25 Years, Image 3) 50 Years, Image 4) 75 Years
Over the years, if we don't take care of our bodies, our blood vessels can start to lose their resiliency and plaque can start to build up in our arteries. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, inflammatory (immune) cells, calcium, and other substances that flow through our bloodstreams. Plaque buildup occurs if we eat high-fat diets, don't get enough exercise, are overweight, smoke, or have other unhealthy habits.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
What Causes a Heart Attack?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes most heart attacks. In people with CAD, plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This is called atherosclerosis (ath-UH-roh-skluh-ROH-sis).
Plaque can build up in fatty clumps or in a thin, smooth layer. Both types are dangerous. The plaque can break open or wear down, causing blood to clump together (clot) in that area. If a clot blocks blood flow to the heart, it can cause a heart attack.
A heart attack can also happen if the artery pinches itself closed. This is called a coronary spasm. Coronary spasms are rare. They happen more often in young women than in older women or men.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (3)
Heart attack caused by cardiac syndrome x | Heart Foundation NZ
Video by Heart Foundation NZ/YouTube
How A Rare Condition Can Cause Heart Attacks In Healthy Young Women | TODAY
Video by TODAY/YouTube
What causes a heart attack?
Video by Heart Foundation NZ/YouTube
4:15
Heart attack caused by cardiac syndrome x | Heart Foundation NZ
Heart Foundation NZ/YouTube
3:08
How A Rare Condition Can Cause Heart Attacks In Healthy Young Women | TODAY
TODAY/YouTube
3:56
What causes a heart attack?
Heart Foundation NZ/YouTube
Symptoms
Pulmonary embolism
Image by TheVisualMD
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot blocking a major artery in the lung is called a pulmonary embolism. In most cases, multiple clots travel to the lungs from another part of the body, particularly in deep veins in the legs. Large embolisms can cause tissue damage and impair the lungs' ability to supply oxygen to the rest of the body. Symptoms can include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain and a cough with signs of blood. Although anyone can develop pulmonary embolisms, such clots are often associated with prolonged bed rest, long periods of sitting in a cramped position and old age.
Image by TheVisualMD
What Are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Women?
Both women and men who have a heart attack often have chest pain. However, in addition to chest pain, women are more likely to have these symptoms:
Pain in the shoulder, back, or arm
Shortness of breath
Unusual tiredness and weakness
Upset stomach
Anxiety
These symptoms can happen together with chest pain or without any chest pain.
Many women may not recognize that these are symptoms of a heart attack. Women may not get emergency treatment right away if they downplay their symptoms and delay going to the hospital, or if the usual initial screening tests performed at the hospital may not detect an early or atypical heart attack. Because of this, women have a higher risk of serious health problems after a heart attack.
It is important to call 9-1-1 if you have these symptoms. Early treatment can limit damage to your heart and can save your life.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (5)
Women's Heart Attack Symptoms
Video by TriStarHealth/YouTube
Surprising signs of heart attack in women
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Heart Attack Signs & Symptoms in Women
Video by Valley Health/YouTube
Men & Women Differing Heart Symptoms
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
Common Warning Symptoms of Heart Attack
Video by NHLBI/YouTube
1:30
Women's Heart Attack Symptoms
TriStarHealth/YouTube
1:00
Surprising signs of heart attack in women
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
1:15
Heart Attack Signs & Symptoms in Women
Valley Health/YouTube
1:41
Men & Women Differing Heart Symptoms
Lee Health/YouTube
2:38
Common Warning Symptoms of Heart Attack
NHLBI/YouTube
Pregnancy
Frequency of events during Pregnancy
Image by TheVisualMD
Frequency of events during Pregnancy
Frequency of events during Pregnancy
Image by TheVisualMD
Pregnancy and Heart Attacks
Heart attacks are not common among pregnant women, but they are possible both during and soon after delivery. Normal changes to your body during pregnancy can raise your risk of a heart attack. Your age, lifestyle habits, and other health conditions, such as bleeding disorders, obesity, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), and diabetes, can also raise your risk.
If you already have coronary artery disease, being pregnant can raise your risk of a heart attack. Coronary artery disease is a major cause of heart attacks during pregnancy. Ask your doctor whether it is safe for you to get pregnant and what steps you need to take to keep your heart healthy during your pregnancy.
Heart attacks caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a coronary artery embolus, or a coronary artery spasm are more common in pregnant women than in people who are not pregnant.
If you have symptoms of a heart attack during your pregnancy, or at any time, call 9-1-1 right away. Your healthcare team will take steps to protect your baby during these tests. Your healthcare team will also make sure that any treatment you take for a heart attack is safe to use during pregnancy.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Diagnosis
Angiogram Imaging of the Coronary Arteries
Image by TheVisualMD
Angiogram Imaging of the Coronary Arteries
Angiogram Imaging of the Coronary Arteries
Image by TheVisualMD
How Is a Heart Attack Diagnosed?
To diagnose a heart attack, a doctor will ask you about your symptoms, your health, and your family health history. The doctor will also order tests.
Doctors often use these types of tests to diagnose a heart attack and choose the best treatment.
Blood tests. During a heart attack, heart muscle cells die and burst open. This process releases proteins into your blood. Heart attack blood tests measure the amount of these protein "markers" of heart damage. Common heart attack blood tests include:
Cardiac troponin [TROH-puh-nin]. This is the most common blood test. This marker is released from the injured heart muscle. It is not found in the blood of healthy people. Troponin levels go up three to six hours after your heart attack starts, so the test may not find a heart attack right away.
Creatine Kinase-MB (CKMB). The CKMB test measures the amount of damage to the heart because of blocked blood flow. The test can tell whether treatments to restore blood flow to the heart are working. CKMB levels rise about four to six hours after a heart attack starts and peak 24 hours later.
Myoglobin. This test helps diagnose a heart attack in the very early stages. After a heart attack, myoglobin levels rise within one to four hours but peak after 12 hours.
Coronary angiography (an-jee-OG-ra-fee), or angiogram. This test takes pictures of a dye flowing through your blood vessels. By watching how smoothly the dye flows, doctors can locate narrowed or blocked coronary arteries that might need to be opened, or find other problems.
Women are more likely than men to have a less-common type of plaque that forms a smooth layer over the arteries instead of a few big lumps. Often, angiograms can't see this thin, smooth plaque, but this type of plaque is still very dangerous. Other tests (such as those described above) might be needed for women who show signs or have symptoms of a heart attack but whose coronary angiography results do not show any problems.
Nuclear heart scan. This test takes pictures to show areas of the heart that may be damaged because they are not getting enough blood. It can also show how well the heart is pumping. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The test uses radioactive material that can harm your baby.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This test detects and records your heart's electrical activity. Certain changes in the electrical waves on an ECG can show whether you are having, or have had, a heart attack. An ECG can also be done during physical activity to monitor your heart when it is working hard.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (3)
How Do Doctors Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease in Women?
Video by Banner Health/YouTube
Heart attack (myocardial infarct) diagnosis | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Heart disease can be harder to diagnose in women
Video by WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore/YouTube
4:17
How Do Doctors Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease in Women?
Banner Health/YouTube
10:45
Heart attack (myocardial infarct) diagnosis | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
1:27
Heart disease can be harder to diagnose in women
WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore/YouTube
Troponin Test
Troponin Test
Also called: Cardiac Troponin, cTn, Cardiac-Specific Troponin, Troponin (I or T)
A troponin test measures the level of troponin in a sample of your blood. Troponin is a protein that's found in the cells of your heart muscle. High troponin levels may be a sign of a heart attack.
Troponin Test
Also called: Cardiac Troponin, cTn, Cardiac-Specific Troponin, Troponin (I or T)
A troponin test measures the level of troponin in a sample of your blood. Troponin is a protein that's found in the cells of your heart muscle. High troponin levels may be a sign of a heart attack.
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Your result is Normal.
Normal troponin levels in the blood are usually so low, they can't be found on most blood tests. If your results show normal troponin levels for 12 hours after chest pain has started, it's unlikely that your symptoms were caused by a heart attack.
Related conditions
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
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Your result is Normal.
Normal troponin levels in the blood are usually so low, they can't be found on most blood tests. If your results show normal troponin levels for 12 hours after chest pain has started, it's unlikely that your symptoms were caused by a heart attack.
Related conditions
A troponin test measures the level of troponin in a sample of your blood. Troponin is a protein that's found in the cells of your heart muscle.
Normally, troponin levels in blood are so low that only the most sensitive types of tests can measure them. But if your heart muscle is damaged, troponin leaks into your bloodstream, and your troponin blood levels will rise.
Troponin testing is mainly used to help diagnose heart attacks. Heart attacks damage the heart by suddenly blocking the blood flow that brings oxygen to part of the heart muscle. Without oxygen from blood, heart muscle cells die and release troponin.
Troponin test results can confirm damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack. The more damage there is to the heart, the more troponin is released into the blood. So, measuring the amount of troponin in the blood can also help estimate how much of the heart has been damaged. Higher than normal troponin levels may also be found in other conditions that can damage heart muscle.
Two types of troponin maybe be measured to diagnose heart damage. They are called troponin I and troponin T. Tests can measure either type.
Other names: cardiac troponin I (cTnI), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cardiac troponin (cTn), cardiac-specific troponin I and troponin T
A troponin test is mainly used to:
Confirm if a person is having a heart attack or recently had a heart attack. This is the most common reason for troponin testing. The test is usually done in the emergency room of a hospital along with other heart tests, such as an EKG (also called an ECG or electrocardiogram).
Diagnose and monitor unstable angina. Angina is chest pain that happens if part of the heart muscle doesn't get as much blood as it needs. Unstable angina is a type of angina that happens at any time, even during rest. It's a medical emergency because it can lead to a heart attack.
Check heart health after a surgery that could damage the heart. In this case, a troponin test may be done before and after surgery so that the results can be compared.
You may need a troponin test if you have symptoms of a heart attack. The symptoms can start slowly or suddenly. They may be mild or intense, and they can come and go over several hours. They include:
Chest pain, heaviness, or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, your back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or above your belly button
Trouble breathing when resting or doing light physical activity
Nausea and vomiting
Feeling unusually tired for no reason, sometimes for days
Dizziness and light-headedness
Sweating a lot for no reason
Rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
If you have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Quick medical attention could save your life.
You may also need troponin testing if you're having surgery that could affect your heart.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a troponin test. But, if you take vitamin B7, also called biotin, make sure you tell the health care provider who orders your test. Biotin and supplements that contain biotin can make your troponin levels appear lower than they really are.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
To understand the results of a troponin test for chest pain and/or other symptoms of a heart attack, your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests.
In general:
If your first troponin test results are normal, you'll probably be retested during the next 12 hours. That's because increased troponin levels usually don't show up for about 2 to 3 hours after a heart attack begins. So, results from a later test may show higher than normal troponin levels. In the meantime, the results of other tests and exams will help your provider know whether to start treatment for a heart attack right away.
If your troponin test results show normal troponin levels 12 hours after your symptoms began, you probably did not have a heart attack.
If your test results show higher than normal amounts of troponin in your blood, it usually means you have some damage in your heart muscle. Your provider will consider all the information about your condition to diagnose whether a heart attack caused the damage. Very high troponin levels most often mean you've had a heart attack.
Higher than normal troponin levels don't always mean you've had a heart attack. They can be caused by unstable angina many other conditions that can damage the heart, including:
Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), especially a heartbeat that's too fast
Heart failure
Heart valve disease
Infection or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
Heart surgery
Intense exercise over a long time, such as running a marathon
Chest injuries
Chronic kidney disease
A blood clot in your lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Sepsis
A severe COVID-19 infection
If you have high troponin levels, but your provider doesn't think you've had a heart attack, you may have other tests to find the cause.
If you have questions about your test results, talk with your provider.
Troponin levels can continue to rise for about 24 hours after a heart attack begins. So, if your test results show high troponin levels, you'll probably be tested two or more times over a 24-hour period.
The results of these tests show how fast your troponin level increased and the highest level it reached. That information helps estimate how much of your heart muscle is damaged and how well you might recover.
Troponin Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 18, 2024]
Troponin Test (cTN) - Testing.com. Apr 12, 2022 [accessed on Jan 18, 2024]
Post-infarction echocardiographic views of ventricular septal defect
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Traumatized Muscle Tissue
This is a scanning electron microscope image of traumatized muscle tissue taken from a soldier injured during Operation Enduring Freedom. It shows a red blood cell (false color) entangled in nanofibrous extracellular matrix. Highly fibrotic regions such as these are thought to precede bone formation during abnormal wound healing, leading to heterotopic ossification, the formation of bone in locations outside the skeleton, such as soft tissue.
Image by Gregory Christopherson, Ph.D. and Leon Nesti, M.D., Ph.D., NIAMS Cartilage Biology and Orthopaedics Branch
Post-infarction ventricular septal defect, short axis echocardiography view
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Myocardial infarction
Inferior wall infarction, short axis echocardiography view
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Angiogram Revealing Coronary Blockage
Doctors use angiograms as an effective imaging tool for visualizing and locating blockages or inconsistencies in blood flow. Contrast dye is used to illuminate the interior of the coronary arteries as blood passes through them. This angiogram reveals blockage in the left main coronary artery, supplying the left side of the heart. The left ventricle of the heart is responsible for exerting a powerful force pushing blood out from the heart, through the aorta, to be delivered throughout the entire body. The patient may be at serious risk of heart disease, including heart attack. If the heart does not have the blood supply it needs to perform its job of pumping volumes of blood to the entire body, organ systems will not be able to function.
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart Attack Caused by Ischemia
Thromboembolisms can cause heart attacks. A clot may lodge in one of the heart's coronary arteries (the arteries that supply the heart muscle tissue with blood) and block blood flow. The tissue becomes starved of oxygen (a condition called ischemia) and is damaged or dies.
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Blockage Leads to Heart Attack
Risk factors increase the likelihood that you'll develop cardiovascular disease, and the more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing it. Fortunately, most of these risk factors are within your control, like high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels, being overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, overconsumption of alcohol, unmanaged diabetes, and stress. Factors you can't control include genetics and aging.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Understanding Heart Attacks
Watch Dr. Mehmet Oz and other renowned cardiologists as they talk about this major killer, known in the medical world as a "myocardial infarction." Step inside the human body in a way that lets you completely understand what a heart attack is all bout, how and why they happen, what to do in the event of a heart attack, and how you can take steps to avoiding one.
Video by TheVisualMD
How tropomyosin and troponin regulate muscle contraction | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by Khan Academy/YouTube
Troponin I Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care Lab Values Nursing
Video by NURSINGcom/YouTube
Complications after a heart attack (myocardial infarction) | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Troponin Test
Video by DrER.tv/YouTube
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a), Heart Attack
LDL, HDL and total cholesterol have become standard biomarkers for heart disease. And yet half of all people who suffer heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels. For that reason, researchers have looked for other biomarkers that might help identify people at risk for cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) is a lipoprotein that closely resembles LDL, and like LDL, elevated levels of Lp(a) are associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Unlike LDL, however, Lp(a) levels are believed to be largely genetic.
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Myocardial infarction
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Angiogram Revealing Coronary Blockage
TheVisualMD
Heart Attack Caused by Ischemia
TheVisualMD
0:23
Blockage Leads to Heart Attack
TheVisualMD
3:52
Understanding Heart Attacks
TheVisualMD
9:22
How tropomyosin and troponin regulate muscle contraction | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Khan Academy/YouTube
2:42
Troponin I Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care Lab Values Nursing
NURSINGcom/YouTube
9:08
Complications after a heart attack (myocardial infarction) | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
4:58
Troponin Test
DrER.tv/YouTube
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a), Heart Attack
TheVisualMD
Creatine Kinase (CK) Blood Test
Creatine Kinase (CK) Blood Test
Also called: Creatine Kinase, Total CK, Creatine Phosphokinase, CPK
This test measures the amount of creatine kinase (CK) in a sample of your blood. CK is an enzyme that helps in producing energy from muscles. High CK levels may be a sign of damage or disease in your muscles, heart, or brain.
Creatine Kinase (CK) Blood Test
Also called: Creatine Kinase, Total CK, Creatine Phosphokinase, CPK
This test measures the amount of creatine kinase (CK) in a sample of your blood. CK is an enzyme that helps in producing energy from muscles. High CK levels may be a sign of damage or disease in your muscles, heart, or brain.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
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U/L
24
204
Your result is Normal.
CK levels are a reflection of total muscle mass. The normal range for total CK varies by age and gender. Race is also known to affect CK levels. Black people have naturally higher levels of CK. Some people with a muscular build also have higher levels of CK. Women generally have lower CK levels than men, because they typically have less muscle mass. Additionally, a pregnant woman will display lower CK levels than a non-pregnant woman.
Related conditions
This test measures the amount of creatine kinase (CK) in a sample of your blood. CK is also called creatine phosphokinase (CPK).
CK is an enzyme. An enzyme is a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. CK helps make energy. Most of the CK in your body is in your skeletal muscles. These are the muscles you use to move. You also have CK in your heart muscle and small amounts in your brain.
Normally, a small amount of CK gets into your blood from the usual wear and tear on your muscles. But if your muscles, heart, or brain tissues are damaged, larger amounts of CK leak out of your cells into your bloodstream.
A CK test is mainly used to help diagnose and monitor injuries and diseases that damage skeletal muscles and cause high levels of CK in your blood. But it may also be used for conditions that damage the heart muscle and the brain.
Other names: CK, total CK, creatine phosphokinase, CPK
A CK test is most often used to help diagnose and monitor:
Muscle injuries, including injuries from accidents, serious burns, or extreme exercise.
Muscle diseases, including:
Muscular dystrophy, a group of inherited muscle diseases that weaken muscles over time.
Rhabdomyolysis, or "rhabdo," a rapid breakdown of muscle tissue which releases proteins and electrolytes into the blood. This uncommon condition can damage the heart and lead to sudden kidney failure. Rhabdo has many causes, including serious injuries, working in very hot places, overusing muscles, and certain medicines and medical conditions that affect the muscles.
Myositis, a group of rare diseases that involve long-term muscle inflammation (swelling), weakness, and sometimes pain.
In certain cases, a CK test may be used to help diagnose a heart attack. Another blood test, called a troponin test is used more often. That's because troponin testing is better at finding damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack.
If you've had a stroke, a CK test may be done to find out how severe it was. The test may also help predict the chance that you may have another stroke.
You may need a CK test if you have symptoms of a muscular disorder. These include:
Muscle pain and/or cramps
Muscle weakness
Balance problems and/or falling a lot
Numbness or tingling
Dark colored urine (pee)
Swollen legs or feet
You may also need this test if you:
Have had an injury that crushed or tore your muscles
Have had serious burns
Take certain medicines that may cause muscle damage, such as statins to lower blood cholesterol
Have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a CK test. To help make sure your results are accurate, your provider may ask you to avoid intense exercise and drinking alcohol for a few days before your test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Normal CK levels for you will depend on:
Your age, sex, and race
How much muscle you have
How physically active you are
If your CK level is higher than normal, it usually means you have some type of muscle damage. CK levels may not reach their highest until up to two days after certain injuries. So, you may have more than one CK test to see if your levels go up or down. CK levels that stay high or increase may mean that muscle damage is continuing to happen.
But a CK test result can't show where the damage is or what's causing it. Your provider will consider your symptoms and medical history to understand what your test results mean.
If the source of high or increasing CK levels isn't clear, you may need a more specific type of CK test to find out if the CK is coming from your muscles, heart, or brain. This more specific test is called a CK isoenzymes test.
To diagnose the condition causing high CK levels, you may need other types of tests, too. The tests you have will depend on which types of CK enzymes are high as well as your symptoms and medical history.
If you have questions about any of your test results or diagnosis, talk with your provider.
Creatine Kinase: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
Creatine phosphokinase test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
Creatine Kinase (Blood) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
HealthMatters.io LLC. Creatine kinase
- Lab Results explained | HealthMatters.io [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
Creatine kinase (CK) Test - Bay Biosciences, LLC.. Oct 19, 2022 [accessed on Jan 27, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (16)
This browser does not support the video element.
Blockage Leads to Heart Attack
Risk factors increase the likelihood that you'll develop cardiovascular disease, and the more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing it. Fortunately, most of these risk factors are within your control, like high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels, being overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, overconsumption of alcohol, unmanaged diabetes, and stress. Factors you can't control include genetics and aging.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Women's Cardiovascular Health
Watch Dr. Mehmet Oz and other renowned cardiologists as they talk about this major killer, known in the medical world as a "myocardial infarction." Step inside the human body in a way that lets you completely understand what a heart attack is all bout, how and why they happen, what to do in the event of a heart attack, and how you can take steps to avoiding one.
Video by TheVisualMD
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) warning signs in women.
Image by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
An illustration depicting a heart attack and chest pain.
Image by BruceBlaus
Myocardial infarction
Inferior wall infarction, short axis echocardiography view
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Post-infarction echocardiographic views of ventricular septal defect
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Heart Attack Symptoms
Symptoms of a heart attack are often more severe and longer-lasting than those of angina. Heart attacks can occur at any time or place, when you're resting or when you're in motion. Heart attacks can strike without warning, but there may be signs and symptoms, like angina, in advance.
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart Attack Symptoms
Symptoms of a heart attack are often more severe and longer-lasting than those of angina. Heart attacks can occur at any time or place, when you're resting or when you're in motion. Heart attacks can strike without warning, but there may be signs and symptoms, like angina, in advance.
Image by TheVisualMD
What Is a Heart Attack?
Sometimes the surface of a plaque in a coronary artery ruptures. The rupture releases substances that make platelets stickier, encouraging clots to form on the surface of the plaque. The clot can block the flow of blood through the already-narrowed artery entirely. Without blood, heart muscle tissue starts to die in what's termed a myocardial infarction- a heart attack.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a), Heart Attack
LDL, HDL and total cholesterol have become standard biomarkers for heart disease. And yet half of all people who suffer heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels. For that reason, researchers have looked for other biomarkers that might help identify people at risk for cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) is a lipoprotein that closely resembles LDL, and like LDL, elevated levels of Lp(a) are associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Unlike LDL, however, Lp(a) levels are believed to be largely genetic.
There are two main types of cholesterol particles found in the bloodstream: HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or \"good\" cholesterol); and LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or \"bad\" cholesterol). LDL often leads to the formation of plaque deposits that can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. Each year 1.2 million people have a heart attack (for nearly half of them, it's not their first). More than 600,000 individuals die from heart disease each year, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women.
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart Attack Caused by Ischemia
Thromboembolisms can cause heart attacks. A clot may lodge in one of the heart's coronary arteries (the arteries that supply the heart muscle tissue with blood) and block blood flow. The tissue becomes starved of oxygen (a condition called ischemia) and is damaged or dies.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a), Cardiovascular Disease
In order for fats to travel freely in the bloodstream, they must be packaged as lipoproteins. The two main types are HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or \"good\" cholesterol) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or \"bad\" cholesterol). There are other lipoproteins, however. Lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), is one that resembles LDL and, like LDL, elevated levels of Lp(a) are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Unlike LDL, however, Lp(a) levels are believed to be largely genetic.
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart attack (myocardial infarct) diagnosis | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
What causes a heart attack?
Video by multiedmedical/YouTube
0:23
Blockage Leads to Heart Attack
TheVisualMD
2:56
Women's Cardiovascular Health
TheVisualMD
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) warning signs in women.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
BruceBlaus
Myocardial infarction
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Heart attack (myocardial infarct) diagnosis | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
2:54
What causes a heart attack?
multiedmedical/YouTube
Myoglobin Test
Myoglobin Test
Myoglobin is a small, oxygen-binding protein that can be found in heart and skeletal muscles. It traps oxygen within muscle cells, allowing the cells to produce the energy required for muscular contraction. When heart or skeletal muscle is injured, myoglobin is released into the blood. This test measures the amount of myoglobin in a sample of your blood.
Myoglobin Test
Myoglobin is a small, oxygen-binding protein that can be found in heart and skeletal muscles. It traps oxygen within muscle cells, allowing the cells to produce the energy required for muscular contraction. When heart or skeletal muscle is injured, myoglobin is released into the blood. This test measures the amount of myoglobin in a sample of your blood.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
ng/mL
25
58
Your result is Normal.
Normal results vary based on the laboratory and the method used.
Related conditions
Negative for heart attack
Myoglobin is a small, oxygen-binding protein that can be found in the heart and skeletal muscle (muscle attached to the bones). When the heart or skeletal muscles are injured, myoglobin is released into the blood; therefore, a myoglobin test can be used to detect muscle damage.
Levels of myoglobin can rise very quickly with severe muscle damage and can be measured within a few hours following an injury.
Your doctor may order this test in the following situations:
You have signs or symptoms that suggest muscle damage, such as muscle ache, muscle weakness, and dark urine.
Your doctor suspects of a heart attack.
You have experienced muscle damage caused by, for example, trauma or muscular dystrophy (a degenerative disease).
There are two ways to measure myoglobin; through a blood test or a urine test.
For a blood test, a healthcare professional takes a blood sample from a vein generally in your arm, using a needle. A small amount of blood is collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out.
For the urine sample, you will be asked to fill a sterile container with a sample of urine.
No preparation is usually required. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications since you might be asked to temporarily stop taking certain drugs that may affect your test results.
There are no known risks associated with the urine test.
During the blood test you may feel discomfort when the needle is inserted and extracted but otherwise is a quick procedure. You may also experience bruising and a little bleeding, as well as mild soreness for a short amount of time after the blood extraction.
In urine, a normal myoglobin level is less than 13 ng/mL.
In blood, normal myoglobin levels are:
Males: 28−72 ng/mL
Females: 25−58 ng/mL
An increase in myoglobin means that there has been a very recent injury to muscle tissue. Increased levels can occur, for example, in people who have had:
Accidents that result in muscle trauma
Seizures
Surgery
Any muscle disease, such as muscular dystrophy
Inflammation of skeletal muscles (myositis)
Rhabdomyolysis
Strenuous exercise
Malignant hyperthermia
Sometimes, a myoglobin blood test may be used along with a troponin test as a cardiac biomarker to help detect a heart attack early; however, in the U.S., this test is less frequently used for this purpose.
The level of myoglobin in the blood starts to rise within 2-3 hours of a heart attack or other muscle injury, reaches its highest levels within 8-12 hours, and generally falls back to normal within one day. An increase in myoglobin is detectable sooner than troponin, but it is not as specific for heart damage and it will not stay elevated as long as troponin.
Although a negative myoglobin result effectively rules out a heart attack, a positive result must be confirmed by testing for troponin.
Myoglobin is filtered from the blood by the kidneys and is released into the urine. Large quantities of myoglobin are toxic to the kidneys. If significant amounts of myoglobin are released into the bloodstream, which can happen after severe trauma or muscle injuries, the excess myoglobin may cause damage to the kidneys and eventually result in kidney failure. Measurement of myoglobin in urine helps to detect this condition.
Myoglobin [accessed on Dec 28, 2018]
Myoglobin (Blood) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Dec 28, 2018]
Myoglobin-Serum: Purpose, Procedure, and Results [accessed on Dec 28, 2018]
010405: Myoglobin | LabCorp [accessed on Dec 28, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (7)
Rhabdomyolysis - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Rhabdomyolysis - muscle breakdown.
Video by DrER.tv/YouTube
Why is Red Meat ... Red?
Video by SciShow/YouTube
Myoglobin
Myoglobin is a protein found in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Its primary function is short-term oxygen storage, though in the heart myoglobin has additional functions as an oxygen monitor. Myoglobin can release oxygen when supplies are scarce in blood or tissue, and can regulate consumption in cardiac muscle in cases of heart attack. When there's been injury to heart or skeletal muscle, myoglobin is released, and elevated levels can be detected in the blood or urine.
Image by TheVisualMD
Myoglobin
Myoglobin is a protein found in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Its primary function is short-term oxygen storage, though in the heart myoglobin has additional functions as an oxygen monitor. Myoglobin can release oxygen when supplies are scarce in blood or tissue, and can regulate consumption in cardiac muscle in cases of heart attack. When there's been injury to heart or skeletal muscle, myoglobin is released, and elevated levels can be detected in the blood or urine.
Image by TheVisualMD
Myoglobin
Myoglobin (blue) with heme group (orange)
Image by Thomas Splettstoesser
Rhabdomyolysis
A urine sample from a person with rhabdomyolysis
Image by James Heilman, MD
2:25
Rhabdomyolysis - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
4:44
Rhabdomyolysis - muscle breakdown.
DrER.tv/YouTube
2:42
Why is Red Meat ... Red?
SciShow/YouTube
Myoglobin
TheVisualMD
Myoglobin
TheVisualMD
Myoglobin
Thomas Splettstoesser
Rhabdomyolysis
James Heilman, MD
Nuclear Heart Scan
Nuclear Heart Scan
Also called: Nuclear Stress Test, Radionuclide Scan
A nuclear heart scan is an imaging test that uses special cameras and a radioactive substance called a tracer to create pictures of your heart. This imaging test can detect if blood is not flowing to parts of the heart and can diagnose coronary heart disease.
Nuclear Heart Scan
Also called: Nuclear Stress Test, Radionuclide Scan
A nuclear heart scan is an imaging test that uses special cameras and a radioactive substance called a tracer to create pictures of your heart. This imaging test can detect if blood is not flowing to parts of the heart and can diagnose coronary heart disease.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
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Your result is Normal.
A normal result indicates that the blood flow through the coronary arteries is probably normal, meaning that you were able to exercise as long as or longer than most people of your age and gender. You also did not have symptoms or changes in blood pressure, your ECG or the images of your heart that caused concern.
Related conditions
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/nuclear-heart-scan [accessed on Apr 09, 2020]
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007201.htm [accessed on Apr 09, 2020]
https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=cardinuclear [accessed on Apr 09, 2020]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (13)
Nuclear stress test can detect more than blockages
Video by mcgwebcontent/YouTube
A Snapshot of Nuclear Imaging
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
Nuclear Stress Test
Nuclear medicine myocardial perfusion scan showing normal heart muscle with no defects.
Image by Sincefalastrum
Spectrum of Medical Imaging
This composite image was created in recognition of The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) designation of 2015 as the “International Year of Light.” Medical imaging scientists and engineers contribute to the quest for the improved human condition by providing imaging that spans the entire usable electro-magnetic spectrum (seen at bottom). From the humblest of beginnings with simple magnification of objects and focusing with lenses, to the biological observation of cells with rudimentary microscopes in the visible spectrum, medical imaging today has both extended away from the visible spectrum towards longer and shorter wavelengths (low and high energies) and exploited the hyperspectral nature of the visible which was once considered “commonplace” or rudimentary. Considering yet a different cross-section through the various imaging modalities across the spectrum, the medically useful information gained spans anatomic, physiologic, and molecular regimes. Systems and algorithms have been developed as single-modality acquisition systems, and also as multiple-modalities with conjoint reconstruction, each informing the other in the quest to optimize image quality and information content. In addition, the role of light-based technologies in enabling advanced computations in tomographic reconstructions, computer-aided diagnosis, machine learning (neural networks, deep learning, etc.) , and 3D visualizations as well as in data-enriched storage of medical images has further extended the potential knowledge “seen” through imaging. The breadth of the electromagnetic spectrum offers limitless opportunities for improvement and inquiry, in our quest to answer human life’s difficult questions. This montage was first published on the cover of the SPIE’s Journal of Medical Imaging (July-Sept. 2015, vol. 3, no. 3) and is but a small tribute to the multitude of medical imaging scientists who have contributed to the wealth of new knowledge as we interrogate the human condition. The gray-scale whole body images (from Left to Right) are acquired from longer wavelength modalities to shorter wavelength modalities spanning the (currently) usable electromagnetic spectrum. The background images include: a coronal Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) T2 weighted image slice, a posterior surface Infra Red (IR) heat map, a coronal non-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) slice, and a coronal 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) slice. The selection of color inset images includes (from Top-to-Bottom, then Left to Right): [1] diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to image long white matter tracts within and around the human brain illustrating neuronal connectivity (coloring refers to bluish=vertical direction; green=horizontal A-P direction; red=horizontal lateral direction) (courtesy of Arthur Toga, PhD); [2] registered and superimposed coronal proton-MRI (gray-scale) and a hyper polarized 129Xe ventilation MRI scan (color scale) within the same patient’s lungs, prior to their receiving a bronchial stent (courtesy of Bastiaan Driehuys, PhD); [3] coronal slice through a microwave-based image reconstruction of the Debye parameter ε (epsilon) in a heterogeneously dense human breast phantom (courtesy of Susan Hagness, PhD); [4] juxtaposed optical image of the retina and vertical and horizontal Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT) slices showing pigmentosa retinopathy (courtesy of Jean-Michel Muratet, MD); [5] functional 3-D photoacoustic imaging of melanoma (gray scale) in vivo, surrounded by highly optically absorptive blood vessels (red) (courtesy of Lihong Wang, PhD); [6] optical micrograph of HeLa cells stained for microtubules (blue) and co-stained with DAPI for actin visualization (red); HeLa cells are the world's first stem cell line, originally derived from the aggressive cervical cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks (courtesy Tom Deerinck/NCMIR); [7] visualization of the pelvis highlighting the colon, which is imaged with contrast x-ray computed tomography (CT), and after digital surface rendering can be used in virtual colonoscopy, thus avoiding a physical visible light-based colonoscopy; [8] registered and fused sagittal 99mTc-sestamibi dedicated molecular single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT, heat color scale) and low-dose CT slice (gray scale) of a patient’s uncompressed, pendant breast containing two surgically confirmed DCIS loci in the posterior breast (courtesy of Martin Tornai, PhD); [9] classic, early x-radiograph of Wilhelm Röntgen’s wife’s hand (adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Photographs_that_Changed_the_World); [10] transverse pelvic CT (gray scale) with multiple superimposed simulated x-ray photon radiotherapy beams, and their cumulative 20Gy (red) deposited dose isocontours at the focus of a tumor (courtesy of Paul Read, MD, PhD); [11] false-colored scanning electron micrograph of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles (yellow) infecting a human H9 T-cell (turquoise) (adapted from http://biosingularity.com/category/infection/); [12] transverse 18F-dopa positron emission tomography (PET) slice through a Parkinson patient’s brain showing decreased in vivo quantitative uptake in the right caudate and putamen (courtesy of Christaan Schiepers, MD, PhD); [13] registered and fused transverse head CT (gray scale) and registered superimposed PET image (color) of a patient immediately after radio-therapeutic proton irradiation showing endogenously created 15O-positron emitter (2 min half-life) within the nasopharyngeal tumor focus (courtesy of Kira Grogg, PhD). [14] transverse (long axis) cardiac 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT slice illustrating thinned myocardial apical wall in a procedure performed thousands of times daily around the world (adapted from www.medscape.com). These images are but a small sampling of the breadth of the spectrum of light that is currently being investigated the world over by passionate scientists and engineers on a quest for the betterment of the human condition. All contributors for these images used herein have given their permission for their use, and are graciously thanked.
Image by Martin Tornai
Enlarged right ventricle with poor function in a patient with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by CMR
Enlarged right ventricle with poor function in a patient with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by CMR
Image by Jccmoon (talk)
Single-photon emission computed tomography
SPECT nuclear imaging of the heart, short axis views
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
PET Scan in 3 views
PET Scan in 3 views
Image by TheVisualMD
PET Scan in 3 views
PET Scan in 3 views
Image by TheVisualMD
PET Scan in 3 views
PET Scan in 3 views
Image by TheVisualMD
What Does a Nuclear Heart Scan Show?
A SPECT slice of a patient's heart.
Image by Kieran Maher
Myocardial perfusion scan
Myocardial perfusion scan with thallium-201 for the rest images (bottom rows) and Tc-Sestamibi for the stress images (top rows). The myocardial perfusion scan plays a pivotal role in the noninvasive evaluation of coronary artery disease. The study not only identifies some patients who have coronary artery disease, it can also provide overall prognostic information or overall risk of adverse cardiac events for the patient, provided that the patient does not suffer from Three-Vessel disease, the most serious result of coronary artery disease..
Image by Uploaded by Myohan
Human Heart right anterior oblique
Heart right anterior oblique nuclear imaging view
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator
Cardiac Stress Test
The image shows a patient having a stress test. Electrodes are attached to the patient's chest and connected to an EKG (electrocardiogram) machine. The EKG records the heart's electrical activity. A blood pressure cuff is used to record the patient's blood pressure while he walks on a treadmill.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
3:33
Nuclear stress test can detect more than blockages
mcgwebcontent/YouTube
2:09
A Snapshot of Nuclear Imaging
Lee Health/YouTube
Nuclear Stress Test
Sincefalastrum
Spectrum of Medical Imaging
Martin Tornai
Enlarged right ventricle with poor function in a patient with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by CMR
Jccmoon (talk)
Single-photon emission computed tomography
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
PET Scan in 3 views
TheVisualMD
PET Scan in 3 views
TheVisualMD
PET Scan in 3 views
TheVisualMD
What Does a Nuclear Heart Scan Show?
Kieran Maher
Myocardial perfusion scan
Uploaded by Myohan
Human Heart right anterior oblique
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator
Cardiac Stress Test
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram
Also called: EKG, ECG
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that measures electrical signals in your heart. An abnormal EKG can be a sign of heart damage or disease.
Electrocardiogram
Also called: EKG, ECG
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that measures electrical signals in your heart. An abnormal EKG can be a sign of heart damage or disease.
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EKG results are normal with a consistent heartbeat and rhythm.
Related conditions
An electrocardiogram (EKG) test is a simple, painless, and quick test that records your heart's electrical activity. Each time your heart beats, an electrical signal travels through your heart. The signal triggers your heart's four chambers to contract (squeeze) in the proper rhythm so that your heart can pump blood to your body.
An EKG recording of these signals looks like wavy lines. Your provider can read these lines to look for abnormal heart activity that may be a sign of heart disease or damage.
An EKG can show:
How fast your heart is beating
Whether the rhythm of your heartbeat is steady or irregular
The strength and timing of the electrical signals passing through each part of your heart
Sometimes information from an EKG can help measure the size and position of your heart's chambers.
An EKG is often the first test you'll have if you have signs of a heart condition. It may be done in your provider's office, an outpatient clinic, in a hospital before surgery, or as part of another heart test called a stress test.
An EKG test is also called an ECG. EKG is based on the German spelling, elektrokardiogramm. EKG may be preferred over ECG to avoid confusion with an EEG, a test that measures brain waves.
An EKG test is used to help diagnose and monitor many types of heart conditions and their treatment. These conditions include:
Arrhythmia
Cardiomyopathy
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart failure
Heart valve diseases
Congenital heart defects
EKG tests are mainly used for people who have symptoms of a heart condition or have already been diagnosed with a heart condition. They are not generally used to screen people who don't have symptoms unless they have an increased risk of developing heart disease. Your provider can explain your risk for heart disease and let you know if need to have an EKG test. In certain cases, your provider may have you see a cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in heart diseases.
You may need an EKG test if you have symptoms of a heart condition, including:
Chest pain
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fatigue
A decrease in your ability to exercise
You may also need an EKG to:
Find out if you had a heart attack in the past but didn't know it
Monitor your heart if you have a known heart condition
Check how well your heart treatment is working, including medicine and/or a pacemaker
Check your heart health:
Before having surgery
If you have an increased risk for developing heart disease because:
Heart disease runs in your family
You have another condition, such as diabetes, that makes your risk higher than normal
An EKG test only takes a few minutes. It generally includes these steps:
You will lie on an exam table.
A provider will place several electrodes (small sensors that stick to your skin) on your arms, legs, and chest. The provider may need to shave body hair to make sure the electrodes stay on.
The electrodes are attached by wires to a computer or a special EKG machine
You will lie very still while your heart's electrical activity is recorded on a computer or printed on paper by an EKG machine.
You don't need any special preparations for an EKG test.
There is very little risk to having an EKG. You may feel a little discomfort or skin irritation after the electrodes are removed. The EKG doesn't send any electricity to your body. It only records electrical signals from your heart, so there's no risk of electric shock.
Your provider will check your EKG results for a steady heartbeat and rhythm. If your results are not normal, it may be a sign of a heart condition. The specific condition depends on which part of your EKG wasn't normal.
You may need to have other heart health tests before your provider can make a diagnosis. Your provider can explain what your test results mean for your heart health and treatment.
An EKG is a "snapshot" of your heart's activity over a very short time. If you have heart symptoms that come and go, a regular EKG may not catch the problem. In that case, your provider may recommend that you wear a small portable EKG monitor that can record your heart for days or longer while you do your normal activities. You may also need a longer EKG recording if your provider wants to check how well your heart is working after a heart attack or to see if treatment is helping you.
There are many types of long-term EKG monitors. The two main groups are Holter monitors, which can be worn for up to two days, and event monitors, which may record your heart activity for weeks to years depending on the type.
A Holter monitor is about the size of a small camera. You usually wear it on a belt or strap around your neck for a day or two. Wires under your clothes attach to electrodes that stick to your chest. The monitor records your heart's electrical signals the whole time you're wearing it. You may be asked to keep a diary of your symptoms during the test period. After the test period, you remove the monitor and return it according to the instructions. A provider will review the recording of your heart's electrical activity from the monitor.
An event monitor records your heart's electrical activity when you press a button or when the device detects abnormal heart activity. There two main types of event monitors:
Event monitors that you wear or carry with you. You wear some monitors on your chest or wrist. Other monitors are designed to carry. If you have symptoms, you hold the monitor to your chest. These event monitors may be used for weeks to months. Some of them wirelessly transmit information about your heart to a provider. Others must be returned so a provider can examine the recorded information.
Event monitors that are inserted under the skin of your chest. These are called implantable event monitors. They are put under your skin during minor surgery that's often done in a doctor's office. These monitors can track your heart's electrical activity for years. You may need this type of EKG monitor if you had a stroke or frequent fainting, and your provider hasn't found the cause. Implantable monitors wirelessly transmit the information they record so your provider can regularly check it.
Electrocardiogram: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Mar 09, 2023]
Electrocardiogram: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Feb 04, 2019]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (35)
How to Read an Electrocardiogram (ECG): Introduction – Cardiology | Lecturio
Video by Lecturio Medical/YouTube
Major Types of Heart Block
Video by Jeff Otjen/YouTube
How An ECG Works
Video by LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube
This browser does not support the video element.
What are Arrhythmias?
Your heart is electric. In this video you'll see how your heart's electrical system works, and what happens when it malfunctions. Voyage inside the human body as Dr. Mehmet Oz and others explain the dangers of heart arrhythmias, including tachycardia, bradycardia, and atrial fibrillation.
Video by TheVisualMD
12 Lead ECG Explained, Animation
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Bundle Branch Block, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
QRS Transitional Zone. See link for real voice update in description!
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
ECG Interpretation Basics - ST Segment Changes. See link for real voice update in description!
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Cardiac Axis Interpretation. See link for real voice update in description!
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Electrical system of the heart | Circulatory system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Cardiovascular | EKG Basics
Video by Ninja Nerd/YouTube
Cardiovascular | EKG's
Video by Ninja Nerd/YouTube
Normal sinus rhythm on an EKG | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Cardiac Conduction System and Understanding ECG, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Willem Einthoven and the ECG - Stuff of Genius
Video by Stuff of Genius - HowStuffWorks/YouTube
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A useful tool for determining whether a person has heart disease, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG, which is painless (no electricity is sent through the body), is used to measure damage to the heart, how fast the heart is beating and whether it is beating normally, the effects of drugs or devices used to control the heart (such as a pacemaker), and the size and position of the heart chambers.
Image by TheVisualMD
Cardiac cycle
Cardiac Cycle vs Electrocardiogram
Image by OpenStax College
Medical Checkups
Image by TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the most commonly given test used to diagnose coronary artery disease. They record the heart's electrical activity and show evidence of angina or heart attack.
Image by TheVisualMD
electrocardiogram-illustration made up from Medications
A normal tracing shows the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave. Also indicated are the PR, QT, QRS, and ST intervals, plus the P-R and S-T segments.
Image by CNX Openstax
What To Expect After an Electrocardiogram
Normal ECG/EKG complex with labels
Image by Derivative: Hazmat2 Original: Hank van Helvete
Cardiac Stress Test
The image shows a patient having a stress test. Electrodes are attached to the patient's chest and connected to an EKG (electrocardiogram) machine. The EKG records the heart's electrical activity. A blood pressure cuff is used to record the patient's blood pressure while he walks on a treadmill.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Relationship between the Cardiac Cycle and ECG
Initially, both the atria and ventricles are relaxed (diastole). The P wave represents depolarization of the atria and is followed by atrial contraction (systole). Atrial systole extends until the QRS complex, at which point, the atria relax. The QRS complex represents depolarization of the ventricles and is followed by ventricular contraction. The T wave represents the repolarization of the ventricles and marks the beginning of ventricular relaxation.
Image by CNX Openstax
The Electric Heart
Image by TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test used to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
Image by U.S. National Library of Medicine
Comparison of Arrhythmia and Normal ECG
As the muscle tissue in an overstressed heart expands, it tears and scars. The resulting tissue - hardened and marred - does not conduct electricity well. The result is that the system can no longer be relied on to deliver the carefully synchronized pattern of jolts needed to keep the heart pumping smoothly. Doctors call it \"arrhythmia.\" The heart is literally \"skipping a beat.\" This can be measured by an electrocardiogram (ECG). In some cases, arrhythmia can mean simply that the heartbeat is too fast or too slow - a bothersome but not necessarily life-threatening condition. In the worst cases, the arrhythmia indicates a potentially lethal instability in the heart's electric system. The signals that control the heart's contractions get crossed and the heart spasms. If not corrected immediately, this fibrillation of the heart is often fatal. In the U.S., more than 1,000 people die every day from sudden cardiac death, or cardiac arrest.
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart Revealing Chamber and Valve
Your heart beats faster or slower depending on information from your brain, which monitors your body's need for blood. However, the basic rhythm of your heart is automatic; it does not depend on signals from your brain. Your heart cells can generate their own electrical signals, which trigger the contractions and cause the entire heart to pump in synchrony. A specialized bundle of muscle and nerve cells called the sinoatrial node (SA node) sits at the top of the right atrium and is the pacemaker of the heart. It generates the signal for the atria to contract and send blood to the ventricles. A similar node - the atrioventricular or AV node - sits at the atrioventricular septum near the bottom of the right atrium and relays the signal from the SA node to the ventricles to contract and pump blood out of the heart. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical signals given off by these two nodes and their conduction through the heart. By looking at the frequency and the height of the peaks and valleys of these signals on an ECG, healthcare professionals get a very good idea of how well the electrical system of your heart is working.
Image by TheVisualMD
Electrocardigram
An electrocardiogram (EKG) detects and records the heart's electrical activity. When the electrical impulse passes through the atria a small peak is recorded (P), followed by a steep spike as it erupts through the ventricles (R), and then another small peak (T) as the wave passes through and the heart repolarizes (recharges) itself for the next beat.
Image by TheVisualMD
Electro- cardiogram
Electrocardiograms, or EKGs, record the electrical activity of the heart. Since injured heart muscle conducts electrical impulses abnormally, the EKG shows if the patient has had or is having a heart attack. It is usually the first test performed.
Image by TheVisualMD
SinusRhythmLabels
Schematic diagram of normal sinus rhythm for a human heart as seen on ECG. In atrial fibrillation, however, the P waves, which represent depolarization of the atria, are absent.
Image by Agateller (Anthony Atkielski)
How To Use an Automated External Defibrillator
The image shows a typical setup using an automated external defibrillator (AED). The AED has step-by-step instructions and voice prompts that enable an untrained bystander to correctly use the machine.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Who Needs an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
Lead II (2) ECG EKG strip of an AICD ICD converting a patient back into thier baseline cardiac ryhthm. The AICD fires near the end of the strip, where the straight line is seen.
Image by Public Domain
Cardiac Cycle
CG Animated Human Heart cut section showing the atria, ventricles and valves, synced with wiggers diagram.
Image by DrJanaOfficial/Wikimedia
Mammalian Heart and Blood Vessels
The beating of the heart is regulated by an electrical impulse that causes the characteristic reading of an ECG. The signal is initiated at the sinoatrial valve. The signal then (a) spreads to the atria, causing them to contract. The signal is (b) delayed at the atrioventricular node before it is passed on to the (c) heart apex. The delay allows the atria to relax before the (d) ventricles contract. The final part of the ECG cycle prepares the heart for the next beat.
Image by CNX Openstax
9:53
How to Read an Electrocardiogram (ECG): Introduction – Cardiology | Lecturio
Lecturio Medical/YouTube
9:23
Major Types of Heart Block
Jeff Otjen/YouTube
2:45
How An ECG Works
LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube
3:27
What are Arrhythmias?
TheVisualMD
3:27
12 Lead ECG Explained, Animation
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
3:48
Bundle Branch Block, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
3:50
QRS Transitional Zone. See link for real voice update in description!
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
1:24
ECG Interpretation Basics - ST Segment Changes. See link for real voice update in description!
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
3:32
Cardiac Axis Interpretation. See link for real voice update in description!
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
9:43
Electrical system of the heart | Circulatory system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
52:29
Cardiovascular | EKG Basics
Ninja Nerd/YouTube
20:37
Cardiovascular | EKG's
Ninja Nerd/YouTube
8:53
Normal sinus rhythm on an EKG | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
3:45
Cardiac Conduction System and Understanding ECG, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
1:46
Willem Einthoven and the ECG - Stuff of Genius
Stuff of Genius - HowStuffWorks/YouTube
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
TheVisualMD
Cardiac cycle
OpenStax College
Medical Checkups
TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram
TheVisualMD
electrocardiogram-illustration made up from Medications
GDJ
Electrocardiogram
CNX Openstax
What To Expect After an Electrocardiogram
Derivative: Hazmat2 Original: Hank van Helvete
Cardiac Stress Test
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Relationship between the Cardiac Cycle and ECG
CNX Openstax
The Electric Heart
TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Comparison of Arrhythmia and Normal ECG
TheVisualMD
Heart Revealing Chamber and Valve
TheVisualMD
Electrocardigram
TheVisualMD
Electro- cardiogram
TheVisualMD
SinusRhythmLabels
Agateller (Anthony Atkielski)
How To Use an Automated External Defibrillator
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Who Needs an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
Public Domain
Cardiac Cycle
DrJanaOfficial/Wikimedia
Mammalian Heart and Blood Vessels
CNX Openstax
Treatment
Restoring Blood Flow
Image by TheVisualMD
Restoring Blood Flow
If symptoms of atherosclerosis are severe or if a life-threatening blockage is present, aggressive measures may be taken to open up clogged vessels. In addition to angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, endarterectomy may be performed or thrombolytic therapy given. In endarterectomy, plaques are surgically removed from the walls of the affected artery using a scalpel. Thrombolytic therapy attempts to break up the clot by inserting a clot-dissolving drug into the artery at the point where it is blocked.
Image by TheVisualMD
How Is a Heart Attack Treated?
Heart attack is most often treated with medicine or nonsurgical procedures that break up blood clots and restore normal blood flow to the heart. Some treatments will start right away, when the ambulance comes. You will get other treatments later, in the hospital.
Getting treatment right away for a heart attack can help prevent or limit damage to your heart muscle. This is one reason why it is important to call 911 if you think you are having a heart attack, rather than driving yourself to the hospital.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (4)
Heart Disease in Women - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options for Women
Video by Rehealthify/YouTube
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) interventions and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
British Heart Foundation - Treating women suspected of having a Heart Attack
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
How is a Heart Attack Treated
Video by smallcogbigmachine/YouTube
1:33
Heart Disease in Women - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options for Women
Rehealthify/YouTube
7:24
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) interventions and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
3:07
British Heart Foundation - Treating women suspected of having a Heart Attack
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
2:40
How is a Heart Attack Treated
smallcogbigmachine/YouTube
Medicines
Controlling Cholesterol
Image by TheVisualMD
Controlling Cholesterol
Controlling Cholesterol with Medicine
Image by TheVisualMD
What Medicines Treat a Heart Attack?
Medicines you might receive if you have a heart attack include:
Clot busters. These drugs are also called thrombolytics (throm-buh-LIT-iks). They stop a heart attack by breaking up blood clots to open blocked arteries. To work best, these medicines must be given as soon as possible after the start of heart attack symptoms. You might get them in the ambulance or in the hospital. If you get them soon after having a heart attack, you're more likely to survive, and your heart is more likely to recover.
Aspirin and blood thinners. These medicines stop blood cells from clumping together and forming new clots. If you call 911 for a heart attack, the operator might tell you to chew up and swallow an aspirin while you wait for the ambulance. It can help reduce damage to your heart and your risk of dying by 25%. Once you arrive at the hospital, you might get a different blood thinner called an anticoagulant through an intravenous line (IV) that carries the medicine right into your bloodstream.
Nitrates. Nitrates widen your arteries and increase blood flow to your heart. Once you arrive in the hospital, you may be treated with nitrates through an IV. One common nitrate is called nitroglycerin (nahy-truh-GLIS-er-in).
Beta blockers. Beta blockers lower your heart's workload. These medicines help relieve chest pain and discomfort and prevent repeat heart attacks. Beta blockers may also be used to treat arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), which often happen during a heart attack.
ACE inhibitors. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors lower blood pressure and strain on your heart. They also help slow down weakening of the heart muscle.
You may also be given other medicines to relieve pain or anxiety or lower your cholesterol.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (5)
HealthTalks - New Medication After a Heart Attack
Video by Baptist Health/YouTube
ACE Inhibitors
Video by EmpoweRN/YouTube
How do ACE inhibitors work?
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Does aspirin help prevent stroke and heart attacks? - Mayo Clinic Radio
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
What's the best way to take aspirin for your heart?
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
1:31
HealthTalks - New Medication After a Heart Attack
Baptist Health/YouTube
9:54
ACE Inhibitors
EmpoweRN/YouTube
2:12
How do ACE inhibitors work?
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
10:08
Does aspirin help prevent stroke and heart attacks? - Mayo Clinic Radio
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
0:52
What's the best way to take aspirin for your heart?
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Procedures
Restoring Blood Flow
Image by TheVisualMD
Restoring Blood Flow
Immediately clearing the blockage from the artery improves the chances of survival for some patients.
Image by TheVisualMD
What Procedures Treat a Heart Attack?
The most common procedures to treat a heart attack include:
Angioplasty and stenting. Angioplasty, also called percutaneous coronary intervention, is a nonsurgical procedure that opens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. A thin, flexible tube with a medical balloon on the end is threaded through a blood vessel to the narrowed or blocked coronary artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to open the artery to allow blood flow to the heart. The balloon is then deflated and removed. A small mesh tube called a stent may be permanently placed in the artery. The stent helps prevent new blockages in the artery.
Coronary artery bypass grafting. The surgeon uses a healthy blood vessel from another part of your body to re-route blood around the blockage in your artery. You may need this surgery if more than one artery is blocked, or if angioplasty and stenting did not work to restore blood flow to the heart.
After a heart attack, you may also need cardiac rehabilitation to recover from the damage the heart attack did to your heart.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (8)
Common Procedures for Heart Attack
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Animation - Coronary stent placement
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
This browser does not support the video element.
Angioplasty Procedure
Step inside the OR to see an angioplasty procedure in action. Watch Dr. Peter Fail thread a tiny coil of metal called a stent through an artery in a patient's leg and up into the heart itself, creating a new flow of blood.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Stent Path
A VG Max animation of the path of a stent traveling up the femoral artery to remedy a blockage in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Seen there is the skeleton, heart, and main arteries of the visible male. The camera follows a drawn path from the femoral artery up to the heart. As it nears the heart the front of the thorax and costal cartilages fade out and the camera zooms in to follow the path into the coronary artery.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Bypass Surgery Procedure
This video follows Dr. Mehmet Oz and the procedure he goes through in performing bypass surgery on Steven Hanford. In the operating room, the procedure begins with the removal of a vein from the patient's leg. Steven's chest is opened and his heart is stopped. The coronary arteries with blockage are bypassed using the veins from the patient's leg. As Dr. Oz's team closes Steven's chest, Dr. Oz reports back to the patient's wife Ginger, that the operation is a success.
All women can make changes to help prevent a heart attack. These changes include making healthier food choices, being more physically active, and not smoking. Once you know your heart attack risk factors, you and your doctor can work together to lower your risk.
Even if you had a heart attack before, you can make changes to help prevent another heart attack. Learn more steps to prevent heart attack and heart disease.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (5)
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Cardiovascular Continuum
Voyage into your body to see an amazing creation you're born with: the perfect cardiovascular system. A lifetime of poor health habits can destroy that system and lead to major medical problems and a shortened lifespan, but it doesn't have to be that way. You have the power to keep your body and mind healthy, strong, and alive. See how you can live longer and live better.
Video by TheVisualMD
Women's Heart Health: How to Prevent Heart Disease and Recognize a Heart Attack
Video by UC Davis Health/YouTube
Preventing Heart Disease in Women
Video by Northwell Health/YouTube
Know your Risk and Prevent Heart Disease
Video by NHLBI/YouTube
Women learn how to prevent heart disease
Video by ABC 10 News/YouTube
3:37
Cardiovascular Continuum
TheVisualMD
1:37
Women's Heart Health: How to Prevent Heart Disease and Recognize a Heart Attack
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Heart Attack in Women
Women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack. However, heart attacks are less common in younger women than in younger men. Learn about the risk factors and causes of heart attacks, and what symptoms to look for in women, as they can be different compared with men.