He obtained treatment quickly. Forty percent of heart attack sufferers die from sudden cardiac death, often never reaching the hospital. Treatment Restores Flow Heart attacks occur when a portion of the heart's blood supply is severely cut off, causing some of the muscle to die from lack of oxygen. The ability of the heart to keep functioning after the heart attack depends on how much heart tissue becomes damaged. Fatty tissue buildup in the arteries and clots that block the flow are responsible for the majority of heart attacks.
Treatment aims to restore the flow to the obstructed vessel or vessels.
When a patient comes to the ER with a suspected heart attack, a doctor will first take take a history and perform a medical examination. Doctors will also take blood and perform other diagnostic tests, such as an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. EKGs look at irregular patterns of the heartbeat. Symptoms of a heart attack can vary, with most reporting an oppressive pressure and pain on their chest, explains Dr. Douglas Zipes, president elect of the American College of Cardiology and chief of cardiology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Others may also have either pain in the neck, left arm or jaw.