A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually by a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. Without enough oxygen-rich blood, the heart muscle begins to suffer damage. The sooner blood flow is restored, the better the outcome. At Heart Health of the South Shore, our team helps patients prevent heart attacks through early risk identification and provides comprehensive cardiac care for patients recovering after one has occurred.
Whether you have known risk factors and want to reduce your chances of a heart attack, or you have already experienced one and need ongoing cardiac management, Heart Health of the South Shore provides the cardiologist-led care patients across Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, and the surrounding South Shore communities need to protect their heart health long term.
Knowing the signs of a heart attack can save your life or the life of someone you love. Heart attack symptoms can vary significantly from person to person, and not everyone experiences the classic chest pain that most people associate with an attack.
Common heart attack symptoms include pressure, tightness, or squeezing pain in the chest, pain that radiates to the left arm, neck, jaw, shoulder, or back, shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort, profuse sweating, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness or lightheadedness, and extreme unexplained fatigue.
If you or someone near you experiences these signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own.
One of the most important things to understand about heart disease is that heart attack symptoms in women frequently look different than they do in men. Women are less likely to experience the dramatic chest-clutching pain most people picture. Instead, heart attack in women signs are often subtler and easier to dismiss.
Heart attack symptoms in women may include unusual fatigue that comes on suddenly and lasts for days, shortness of breath without exertion, pain in the neck, jaw, back, or upper abdomen rather than the chest, nausea, vomiting, or indigestion-like discomfort, dizziness or lightheadedness, and cold sweats unrelated to physical activity.
Because these symptoms can mimic stress, flu, or acid reflux, many women delay seeking care. That delay can cost critical time. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and call 911.
Our approach to heart attack care covers both prevention for at-risk patients and ongoing management for patients who have already experienced an event.
Prevention Through Risk Identification Most heart attacks do not happen without warning. They are the result of risk factors that have been building for years, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and a family history of heart disease. Our team identifies and addresses these risk factors through comprehensive cardiac evaluations, lab work, and ongoing monitoring, so that issues are detected and managed before they lead to an event.
Post-Heart Attack Cardiac Care Surviving a heart attack is the first step. What happens next determines your long-term heart health. Our team provides follow-up cardiac evaluation to assess the extent of damage, monitors heart function over time, manages medications and lifestyle modifications to prevent a second event, and coordinates with hospitals and specialists involved in your acute care. The goal is not just recovery. It reduces your risk of another heart attack and protects the heart function you have.
Heart attack prevention and recovery require a cardiologist who understands the full scope of cardiovascular disease. Dr. David Hersh is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology with board certifications in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography. That expertise allows our office to evaluate, monitor, and manage heart attack risk with a level of precision that goes well beyond what a standard physical provides.
With hospital privileges at Lenox Hill, St. Francis, and South Nassau, Heart Health of the South Shore coordinates seamlessly with hospital teams when patients need acute intervention or post-event follow-up.
The most common signs of a heart attack include chest pressure or pain, pain radiating to the arm, neck, jaw, or back, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and dizziness. Symptoms can vary widely between individuals, and some people experience a heart attack with no chest pain at all.
Yes. Heart attack symptoms in women often include fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in the jaw, neck, or back rather than classic chest pain. These symptoms are frequently mistaken for stress, flu, or digestive issues, which is why awareness of heart attack in women signs is critical for early intervention.
Many heart attacks can be prevented by identifying and treating cardiovascular risk factors early. Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar; maintaining a healthy weight; staying physically active; and not smoking all significantly reduce the risk of heart attack. Regular evaluation by a cardiologist is the most effective way to catch problems before they become emergencies.
Yes. Heart Health of the South Shore welcomes new patients for heart attack prevention and post-event cardiac care. Call (516) 218-2510 or book online to schedule your appointment. We serve patients in Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, Freeport, Massapequa, and the surrounding South Shore communities.
