Heart attacks and angina

Having chest pain is frightening when you know you have coronary artery disease (CAD). Chest pain can be a signal of angina or heart attack.

Angina

Angina is one of the visible signs of CAD. It is a warning sign that the heart is temporarily not getting enough blood and oxygen to handle its workload. Angina does not cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.

Heart attack

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is cut off for a prolonged period of time. This causes permanent damage to the heart muscle.

• Symptoms of a heart attack
• Risk factors for heart attack
• Preventing a heart attack 

If you are having a heart attack, you need to go to the nearest emergency center. Do not wait. If you even suspect that you might be experiencing angina or having a heart attack, call 911.

Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center at Methodist Hospital has earned a national reputation for its aggressive approach to treating heart attack patients — a collaboration between our heart center, emergency center, cath lab and emergency response staff.