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Heart attack

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a medical emergency, requiring immediate care. Our paramedics, emergency department doctors and cardiologists work together to diagnose, treat and protect your heart.

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An immediate response when “time is muscle”

A heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, happens when blood and oxygen can’t get to the heart. Usually, a heart attack results from a blood clot or plaque clogging an artery. Without treatment, the heart muscle can start to die.

Our team of heart care experts is trained to respond quickly. We support you before, during and after a heart emergency. When you call 911:

  1. Providers trained in Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support get to you as soon as possible and begin treatment upon arrival. 
  2. If they determine you’re having a heart attack, paramedics administer medications, start an intravenous (IV) line and take steps to start saving your heart muscle. 
  3. The pre-hospital care team communicates with in-hospital providers while en route, so your emergency department doctor can get resources ready before you arrive. 
  4. At the hospital, you’ll receive emergency heart treatments, as well as instructions for recovery and future preventive care.

Patient story

"Things moved so quickly. By the time my wife arrived, I was in recovery. It was, at most, 45 minutes from the time I arrived at the emergency department until I was diagnosed and remedied."

Tom P., Atlantic Health cardiac patient

Read Tom’s story

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Cardiovascular rescue and recovery program

When you have severe and complicated heart issues, it helps to have multiple experts working together to support your recovery. Our program’s dedicated team delivers personalized, focused treatment plans. We offer the highest quality care to patients with coronary artery disease, myocardial disease and cardiogenic shock, as well as those needing conventional or complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Learn About the Program

Common questions about heart attacks

Heart attack symptoms can vary by person. The most common symptoms are pressure or squeezing in the chest and shortness of breath. You may also have pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. If you think you’re having a heart attack, but aren’t sure, call 911.

Yes, if you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911. With a heart attack, time is muscle, so the sooner you can receive treatment, the better it is for your heart. A review of patient cases at Atlantic Health shows that patients who call 911 get treatment an average of 30 minutes faster than those who drive themselves to the hospital.

A STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) is a severe heart attack. One of your heart’s main arteries is totally blocked. An NSTEMI is a partial blockage.

Heart attack rates tend to be higher in men than women, but that’s because men typically have heart attacks earlier in life. Women also can have different heart attack symptoms, making it harder to recognize a heart attack.

Heart attack recovery can take several weeks to several months. Your recovery timeline depends on how severe your heart attack was, your treatment and when you received it, and your overall health status. A cardiac rehabilitation program can help speed up your recovery.

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