A heart attack happens when part of the heart muscle does not get enough blood for it to do its job. Even though the heart pumps blood, it gets its nourishment from blood vessels. If one of these vessels is blocked, part of the heart muscle may die. What happens next depends on how much of the heart is damaged. If only a small part is involved, the patient may simply feel a little chest pain and recover with few problems. If a large part of the heart muscle is involved, the patient can have severe pain and die. Sometimes the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle also nourish the part of the heart that carries the signal for the heart to beat. If these vessels are blocked, the heart may beat irregularly or not at all. When the heart stops beating, this is called a cardiac arrest.

How well a person does after a heart attack depends on how large a portion of the heart muscle was damaged. When a heart muscle is damaged it may recover somewhat, or it can simply form a scar. A scar on the heart muscle does not help with pumping blood. If the scar is not too big, the rest of the healthy heart muscle can make up for it.

The most important first step after a heart attack happens is to Seek medical advice. Depending on the type of heart attack, the doctor may want to try to dissolve the clot that is blocking the blood supply to the heart. The doctor may also want to treat any abnormal heart rhythm.

As a person recovers from a heart attack, there are things they can do to help themselves. Some medical problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can worsen heart problems. These should be treated. High levels of cholesterol should also be treated. The lowering of high cholesterol levels after a heart attack has been shown to lower the chances of another attack. Persons who smoke should stop. Cigarette smoke decreases the blood supply of oxygen and helps build up cholesterol in the arteries. Many physicians also recommend low doses of aspirin to persons who have had a heart attack. This can make the blood less likely to clot and help lower the risk of another heart attack. When a heart attack has begun to heal, a supervised exercise program may begin. This improves the heart's ability to work and may help lower the risk of a second heart attack.

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