Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Expectations (prognosis)
How well you do after a heart attack depends on the amount and location of damaged tissue. Your outcome is worse if the heart attack caused damage to the signaling system that tells the heart to contract.
About a third of heart attacks are deadly. If you live 2 hours after an attack, you are likely to survive, but you may have complications. Those who do not have complications may fully recover.
Usually a person who has had a heart attack can slowly go back to normal activities, including sexual activity.
Complications
Cardiogenic shock Congestive heart failure - Damage extending past heart tissue (infarct extension), possibly leading to rupture of the heart
- Damage to heart valves or the wall between the two sides of the heart
- Inflammation around the lining of the heart (
pericarditis ) - Irregular heartbeats, including
ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation - Blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Blood clot to the brain (
stroke ) - Side effects of drug treatment
Calling your health care provider
Immediately call your local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of a heart attack.
Images
Review Date: 06/21/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Michael
A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of
Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington
Medical School, Seattle, Washington.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
