Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiogram (CCTA)
A cardiac CTA is a non-invasive scan that creates a three-dimensional image of your heart and arteries.
Heart Attack
Our physicians provide you lifesaving, immediate care
A heart attack, called myocardial infarction, occurs when the muscles around the heart do not receive enough blood and stop functioning. Blood flow stops because plaque, a waxy substance, has built up in the artery during a process called atherosclerosis.
A heart attack can threaten your life and requires immediate medical attention. IU Health Heart & Vascular physicians provide lifesaving care for heart attacks throughout the state of Indiana, offering quick response, coordinated communication between all members of the care team and advanced treatment options.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not drive to the hospital. Emergency personnel can begin lifesaving care in the back of the ambulance and ensure quicker treatment at the hospital.
Overview
A heart attack can threaten your life and requires immediate medical attention. IU Health Heart & Vascular physicians provide lifesaving care for heart attacks throughout the state of Indiana, offering quick response, coordinated communication between all members of the care team and advanced treatment options.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not drive to the hospital. Emergency personnel can begin lifesaving care in the back of the ambulance and ensure quicker treatment at the hospital.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs of a heart attack can differ among people. Most people experience:
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the arms, shoulders, neck or jaw
IU Health Heart & Vascular Care physicians’ affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine ensures that they can offer you the latest innovations in diagnosis and treatment. They have implemented new lifesaving techniques throughout their history, bringing many treatments to Indiana for the first time.
From emergency programs that ensure speed and communication coordination, to LifeLine emergency transport services, to experienced cardiac care teams, they care for you when you need them most.
The longer it takes for the heart muscle to receive blood flow, the more the heart muscle dies, decreasing your heart function. Once a heart attack occurs, a physician must clear the plaque causing the attack as quickly as possible to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
Your IU Health physicians will offer comprehensive heart attack care from treatment through recovery, including:
- LifeLine emergency services. Specially trained LifeLine crews work throughout the state of Indiana. They provide both ground and air transport so you get the help you need fast.
- Balloon angioplasty. Balloon angioplasty reopens the artery to allow blood flow to the heart. Your physician does this by making a small incision in your groin then guiding (by X-ray) a deflated balloon through the arteries to the blocked area. Once in place, he/she inflates the balloon, allowing blood flow to return to the heart muscle.
- Stent placement. Stent placement uses the same techniques as balloon angioplasty, except instead of inflating a balloon, your physician inserts a mesh wire tube in your artery to keep it open.
- Coronary artery bypass surgery. For severe blockages, your surgeon will graft a new vein or artery into your heart to allow blood to divert around the blockage.
- Cardiac rehabilitation. After a heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation improves your recovery and gets you back on your feet.
- Medication therapies. Following a heart attack, your physician will prescribe new medications to prevent future heart attacks and improve your heart health.
Treatment
IU Health Heart & Vascular Care physicians’ affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine ensures that they can offer you the latest innovations in diagnosis and treatment. They have implemented new lifesaving techniques throughout their history, bringing many treatments to Indiana for the first time.
From emergency programs that ensure speed and communication coordination, to LifeLine emergency transport services, to experienced cardiac care teams, they care for you when you need them most.
The longer it takes for the heart muscle to receive blood flow, the more the heart muscle dies, decreasing your heart function. Once a heart attack occurs, a physician must clear the plaque causing the attack as quickly as possible to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
Your IU Health physicians will offer comprehensive heart attack care from treatment through recovery, including:
- LifeLine emergency services. Specially trained LifeLine crews work throughout the state of Indiana. They provide both ground and air transport so you get the help you need fast.
- Balloon angioplasty. Balloon angioplasty reopens the artery to allow blood flow to the heart. Your physician does this by making a small incision in your groin then guiding (by X-ray) a deflated balloon through the arteries to the blocked area. Once in place, he/she inflates the balloon, allowing blood flow to return to the heart muscle.
- Stent placement. Stent placement uses the same techniques as balloon angioplasty, except instead of inflating a balloon, your physician inserts a mesh wire tube in your artery to keep it open.
- Coronary artery bypass surgery. For severe blockages, your surgeon will graft a new vein or artery into your heart to allow blood to divert around the blockage.
- Cardiac rehabilitation. After a heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation improves your recovery and gets you back on your feet.
- Medication therapies. Following a heart attack, your physician will prescribe new medications to prevent future heart attacks and improve your heart health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of a heart attack?
Common symptoms are:
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Paleness
- Aching left arm
- Fatigue
- Pain or discomfort between their lower rib cage and belly button
- Shortness of breath
- Pain where a bra strap would go, in the neck or in the right shoulder
- Palpitations
Can you have a heart attack and not know it?
It seems hard to believe that anyone could miss the signs of a heart attack. Most of us are familiar with the dramatic symptoms we see in movies and on TV, where sufferers clutch their chest and drop to the floor in agony. But in real life, many heart attacks cause little more than fatigue, shortness of breath, and discomfort in the neck, throat, or jaw—symptoms that can easily be dismissed or blamed on something else.
Knowing the less common symptoms is especially important for women, as they’re less likely to experience the more widely known signs. Just feeling out of sorts and maybe not being able to multitask are signs something could be wrong and you should see a doctor.
How can you prevent a heart attack?
Regular check-ups to evaluate your risk factors are your best defense. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Talking openly with your doctor about your heart health concerns and asking questions can be a game-changer in taking care of yourself.
Getting help early, understanding your medications and any procedures recommended is crucial. Stick to the treatment plan your doctor suggests and don't hesitate to talk about any concerns or side effects.
You can also reduce your risk by:
- Exercising 150 minutes a week
- Taking time to reflect
- Walking outside in fresh air
- Eating less than 40 fat grams a day
- Consuming less than 2000 mg of sodium daily
- Rarely eating red meat or processed food
- Reading labels
- Eating 3 – 4 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
- Sleeping 7 hours a night
- Addressing snoring or sleep apnea
- Addressing nicotine of any kind
- Addressing alcohol overuse
- Getting a heart scan
To be eligible for a heart scan, you must not have had a heart scan within the last five years and must be 40 to 79 years of age with one of these risk factors:
- Family history of heart disease, stroke and/or other vascular disease
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
Feb 19
Jesse Prince, a former IU Health Bloomington cardiac rehabilitation patient, credits the program with improving his mental and physical health.
Patient Stories for Heart Attack
Feb 19
Jesse Prince, a former IU Health Bloomington cardiac rehabilitation patient, credits the program with improving his mental and physical health.
National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute
This website offers information on the risk factors, signs and treatments of heart attack.
Resources
National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute
This website offers information on the risk factors, signs and treatments of heart attack.