On This Page


It is one of your most important muscles as it pumps blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body. For your heart to function properly, it needs a good blood supply. A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when one or more of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle is blocked.

This stops the blood flow and reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your heart muscle. Recognising the warning signs of a heart attack and calling 911 could save your life, or the life of a loved one. It’s important that everyone knows the warning signs of a heart attack because early treatment is vital.

The longer a blockage is left untreated, the more damage occurs.

When having a heart attack, you may experience pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in one or more parts of your upper body, including your: back. This may occur in combination with other warning signs such as: shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

You may have just one of these warning signs or you may have a combination of them. They usually last for at least 10 minutes and may come on suddenly or get worse as time passes.

Although chest pain or discomfort is the most common warning sign of a heart attack, some people will not experience chest pain at all, while others will experience only mild chest pain or discomfort. Heart attack warning signs can be different for women. While chest pain is the most common heart attack warning sign in both women and men, women are more likely than men to experience the non-chest pain warning signs listed above, along with feeling fatigued or tired.

It is also possible to experience a ‘silent heart attack’, where you might not have any symptoms at all. In this case, your heart attack might not be picked up until later down the track.

If you, or someone you know, are experiencing the warning signs of a heart attack – tell someone.

If symptoms are severe, or getting worse, or last for more than 10 minutes, call 911 immediately and ask for an ambulance. to learn more about the warning signs of a heart attack and steps to take in the event of a medical emergency. This occurs when fatty deposits (called plaque or atheroma) slowly build up on the inner wall of the coronary arteries and cause the arteries to become narrow.

During a heart attack, plaque from the artery wall breaks away (ruptures) and can form a clot. This can block the flow of blood through the artery and cause damage to the heart muscle. Other less common causes of a heart attack include:

  • sudden contraction
  • narrowing of the coronary artery (coronary artery spasm)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). A heart attack is a medical emergency.

Diagnosis and treatment can start in the ambulance

Once you get to the hospital, further tests will be performed to confirm a heart attack. These tests will also measure the amount of damage to your heart and what treatment you need. Tests to diagnose a heart attack include:

  • – including a troponin test to measure levels of enzymes (proteins) released into the blood when the heart muscle is damaged – a long
  • thin tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery in your wrist (or sometimes the groin)

The catheter is threaded through the artery until it reaches your heart. A special dye is then injected into the catheter and an X-ray is taken. The X-ray shows where the coronary arteries are blocked.

A heart attack requires emergency treatment to restore blood flow to your heart. The faster this happens, the less damage to the heart muscle.

Heart attack treatments may involve medicines or surgery

To treat your heart attack in the ambulance or hospital, your doctor may prescribe a medicine called thrombolysis (or thrombolytic therapy). Thrombolysis is a treatment to dissolve blood clots that are narrowing or blocking a coronary artery. The ‘clot-busting’ medicine is given to you through a drip.

Dissolving the clot improves blood flow to your heart muscle and around your body.

To reduce the risk of future heart attacks, your doctor will also start you on medicines while you’re recovering in hospital. You will need to continue taking these over the long-term.

It’s very important to keep taking your medicines unless your doctor or cardiologist tells you to stop. Have regular check-ups with your doctor so they can review your medicines and adjust them as needed. Commonly prescribed medicines after a heart attack include:

  • antithrombotic medicines like anticoagulants
  • antiplatelets – to reduce the risk of blood clots forming blood pressure medicines like angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) – to make it easier for your heart to pump blood
  • lower blood pressure by widening your blood vessels cholesterol-modifying medicines – to reduce your cholesterol levels

Following a heart attack, some people may need surgery to open up a blocked artery. This can include:

  • coronary angioplasty
  • stent insertion – a procedure to open up a blocked coronary artery using a balloon. Once the artery is open
  • a special expandable tube (stent) is left in place to keep it open
  • the balloon is withdrawn

This improves blood flow to your heart – an operation where a healthy blood vessel (can be a vein or artery from your arm, leg or chest) is attached to either side of the blocked artery in your heart and is used to allow blood flow to your heart again. A heart attack can be a life-changing event.

It’s normal to feel scared, confused and overwhelmed after a heart attack

The good news is there are many resources available to support you in recovering after a heart attack. Having one heart attack increases your risk of having another. Participating in cardiac rehabilitation, taking your medicines as prescribed and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the likelihood of a future heart attack.

Being part of a support group can be useful for some people too. (or cardiac rehab) is a program of support, exercise and education that is led by health professionals to improve your recovery and quality of life. Attending cardiac rehab can help you recover and return to live a full and active life.

You will also be supported to make long-term lifestyle changes to improve your heart health and wellbeing. to find out more about a local cardiac rehab program tailored to your needs. Medicines can help protect your heart and lower the risk of future heart problems.

For more information about your heart medicines, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Always talk to your doctor before taking any other medicines that you buy over the counter.

Over-the-counter medicines are medicines you can buy from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop without a prescription. Many over-the-counter medicines (including pain medicines, cold and flu medicines, ) can interact with your heart medicines. Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent another heart attack: most days of the week.

There are many benefits to joining a support group. You can meet others who have had a similar experience, get practical advice and gain emotional support. About the heart Your heart Heart attack warning signs chest shoulder neck arm jaw nausea, indigestion or vomiting dizziness, light-headedness or feeling faint sweating or breaking out in a cold sweat Warning signs of a heart attack Heart attack action plan You can download a free heart attack action plan (available in 17 languages) Causes of a heart attack The most common underlying cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease tearing of the coronary artery wall ( spontaneous coronary artery dissection ) To find out your risk of having a heart attack, see your doctor for a Heart Health Check Diagnosing a heart attack electrocardiogram (ECG) – to measure the electrical activity of your heart blood tests coronary angiogram Treatment for a heart attack Medicines for heart attack beta blockers – to lower blood pressure and regulate your heart rate and rhythm Surgical procedures coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery Preventing another heart attack Participate in cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation Speak to your doctor or visit the Heart Foundation’s Cardiac Services Directory Take your medicines as prescribed It’s important to know which heart medicines supplements and vitamins Make lifestyle changes Quit smoking and limit exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke Be physically active Follow a heart-healthy eating pattern Drink less alcohol Look after your mental health Maintain a healthy body weight Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol Manage your blood sugar levels, for people with diabetes Join a support group Find out more about support and walking groups available through the Heart Foundation Where to get help In an emergency, always call 911 Your GP (doctor) Cardiologist Emergency department of your nearest hospital Heart Foundation NURSE-ON-CALL (616) 555-0024 – for expert health information and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Key Points

  • one of your most important muscles as it pumps blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body
  • It’s important that everyone knows the warning signs of a heart attack because early treatment is vital
  • also possible to experience a ‘silent heart attack’, where you might not have any symptoms at all
  • This can block the flow of blood through the artery and cause damage to the heart muscle
  • Diagnosis and treatment can start in the ambulance