Does a heart attack cause heart damage?

Does a heart attack cause heart damage?

The blockage is most often a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries). Sometimes, a plaque can rupture and form a clot that blocks blood flow. The interrupted blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle.

Can a mild heart attack affect your heart?

A mild heart attack affects a relatively small portion of the heart muscle, or does not cause much permanent heart damage. This is because the blockage in a coronary artery occurs in a small artery that supplies a small portion of the heart muscle; does not completely block blood flow to the heart; or lasts briefly.

What happens to your heart after a heart attack?

Arrhythmias can develop after a heart attack as a result of damage to the muscles. Damaged muscles disrupt electrical signals used by the body to control the heart. Some arrhythmias, such as tachycardia, are mild and cause symptoms such as: palpitations – the sensation of your heart racing in your chest or throat.

What’s the difference between a heart attack and a cardial infarction?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), is permanent damage to the heart muscle. “Myo” means muscle, “cardial” refers to the heart, and “infarction” means death of tissue due to lack of blood supply.

Can you have a heart attack with no complications?

Some people experience a “minor” heart attack (although it can still be very serious) with no associated complications. This is also known as an uncomplicated heart attack.

How does high blood pressure lead to a heart attack?

The excess strain and resulting damage from high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) causes the coronary arteries serving the heart to slowly become narrowed from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that together are called plaque. This slow process is known as atherosclerosis.

What happens when you have a heart attack?

1. Chest pain or discomfort. This is the most common symptom when having a heart attack. Some people may experience a sudden sharp pain, while some may feel just a mild pain. This may last for a couple of minutes or up to a few hours.

What are the effects of heart attack?

The effects of a mild heart attack include heart arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms. The Mayo Clinic explains that when part of the heart muscle is damaged during a heart attack, its ability to conduct an impulse to beat can be impaired.

What are symptoms of heart muscle damage?

Damage to the heart muscle may diminish the pumping ability of the heart. If the left side of the heart is damaged by the heart attack, a person may experience fatigue, shortness of breath, low blood pressure and chest pain.

What are the types of heart attacks?

The longer a patient goes without treatment, the higher their risk of death is. Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, nausea, and dizziness, to name a few. There are three main types of heart attack: STEMI, NSTEMI, and silent heart attack.