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Serious severity
· Cardiology
Heart Attack
Myocardial infarction · Blocked coronary artery
A clot blocks blood supply to part of the heart muscle, which starts to die within minutes. Every minute of delay shrinks the muscle that survives — call an ambulance, do not drive yourself.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- 2 million Indians/year
- Typical age
- 45+ years
- Outlook
- Time-critical emergency
- System
- Heart
Reviewed by a practising cardiology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Cholesterol plaque rupture
- Smoking, diabetes, hypertension
- Family history of early heart disease
- Severe stress or cocaine use
- Sedentary lifestyle
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Crushing chest pain or pressure
- Pain radiating to left arm or jaw
- Cold sweat, nausea, breathlessness
- Sudden severe fatigue (often in women)
- Light-headedness or fainting
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Call 108 immediately; chew aspirin if advised
- Emergency angioplasty (PCI) within 90 minutes
- Clot-busting medication if PCI unavailable
- Statins, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors lifelong
- Cardiac rehab program after discharge
Staying ahead
Prevention
- Quit smoking entirely
- Keep LDL cholesterol below 70 mg/dL
- Control BP, sugar, weight aggressively
- Daily 30-min cardio after age 35
- Annual cardiac risk screening over 40
Do’s
- Call an ambulance at the first sign
- Stop all activity and sit upright
- Chew (not swallow) one aspirin
- Note the exact time symptoms started
Don’ts
- Drive yourself to hospital
- Wait to "see if it passes"
- Skip cardiac rehab after discharge
- Restart smoking even socially
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
See all cardiology doctors Top 4 doctors for Heart Attack
Ranked by patient rating, years of experience and review volume. All verified by MediConsult’s clinical team.
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DP
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.