Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Quick answer

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle stops and that muscle starts to die. The usual warning is chest pressure that lasts more than a few minutes and can spread to the arm, jaw, neck or back. Shortness of breath, nausea, a cold sweat or sudden exhaustion count too. Women often get those without any chest pain at all. If it is happening now, call 911.

Myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle.

How common heart disease is where you live is measurable. Our California cardiovascular prevalence data covers all 58 counties and 1,522 cities.

What are the symptoms of myocardial infarction?

The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. Often it occurs in the center or left side of the chest and lasts for more than a few minutes. The discomfort may occasionally feel like heartburn. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, nausea, feeling faint, a cold sweat, or feeling tired. About 30% of people have atypical symptoms. Women more often present without chest pain and instead have neck pain, arm pain, or feel tired. Among those over 75 years old, about 5% have had an MI with little or no history of symptoms.

What can a heart attack cause?

A myocardial infarction (MI) may cause heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, cardiogenic shock, or cardiac arrest.

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Michael Prae

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On behalf of my father, a patient of CACVI, I wanted to acknowledge and praise the entire team of this organization for its outstanding surgical expertise and knowledgeable/warm supporting staff. We had gone through countless recommendations that all claimed there was only one last option for treatment, amputation. That news is devastating for anyone to hear, and resulted in my father having little faith that the quality of his life would ever be the same... All that changed the moment we had our first interaction with this organization. The care, knowledge, and most importantly hope that there was still options if we acted fast was single moment that turned this entire nightmare around. Thank you CACVI for being the single most important piece to solving my father's health crisis. Dont think twice, make the appointment and atleast go meet and see them-- for us it was the moment that changed the trajectory of our situation forever for the better.

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Matt Golad

I’m 41 years old, and I have something called May-Thurner’s Syndrome. However, it wasn’t until I saw Dr. Vasim Lala a couple years ago that I was diagnosed with it. May-Thurner’s syndrome is when the main veins that split off into your legs is compressed by the main arteries that split off into your legs. The result is that the blood that should be coming back up through the leg veins pools at your ankles. My whole life until I was diagnosed, I was lethargic. My legs felt heavy. I started to develop purple bruising around my ankles in my twenties. I started to get varicose veins on my calves. I thought this was normal. I was living on “hard mode” and didn’t know it. If I was on my feet for extended periods of time, my legs would swell a lot. I thought maybe I need to lose some weight. When I started teaching a few years ago, I would be on my feet 6-8 hours a day. One day, I got home, and my left leg was so swollen my wife was concerned I had a blood clot. I went to the emergency room, and thankfully it was just superficial. I temporarily went on blood thinners and was recommended to see Dr. Lala. He changed my life. I’d shown my purpling ankles to GP’s. They’d seen my varicose veins. But none if them put all the signs together until I saw Dr. Lala. He diagnosed me with May-Thurner’s syndrome and recommend we put stents in my veins to prevent them from being compressed by the arteries. So we did the surgeries. Out patient procedures. My legs stopped swelling a lot. I started wearing compression socks. I had to be on blood thinners for a year, but eventually I was able to stop taking them which was great. But I still had varicose veins in my legs because they had widened from the blood pooling in them for years. I’ve had two ablations per leg since them, which closes the affected veins, and I’ve got a new lease on life. My legs feel lighter. They don’t swell nearly as much. The varicose veins have disappeared. Now, I’m lighter on my feet. I’m not lethargic. There’s a pep in my step. I have one more ablation each being scheduled. I’m thankful for Dr. Lala and his incredible team at CACVI for their diagnosis and treatment. It truly changed my life.

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PAK SHIP ALL

On August 27, 2025, I had my leg Angio done with Dr. K. who is best of the best. Amazing Doctor and extremely knowledgeable. The nurse who helped me, JULIAN she has a very kind heart. She has a lot of knowledge and made me feel extremely relaxed. She went above and beyond her responsibilities. It seems God made her to be kind and caring for all the patients. I salute her and look forward to having same nurse for procedure in my other leg. I came home with a big Smile. Thank you Thank you Thank you

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Common Types of Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmias are broadly divided into two major groups, tachycardia and bradycardia.

1. Tachycardia—Fast Heartbeat

Tachycardia occurs when the heart beats faster than normal, typically over 100 beats per minute. You may notice a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest discomfort. Persistent tachycardia can increase the risk of complications if left untreated.

Tachycardia can further be broken down into:

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat originating in the atria (the heart’s upper chambers). It can cause palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness, or chest pain. AF increases the risk of blood clots, stroke, and other complications, making timely diagnosis and management essential.

Atrial Flutter

The difference between atrial flutter and AFib is that the heartbeat is more organized. It often causes a fast but regular heartbeat and may lead to symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort. While it is not as severe as AFib, atrial flutter can still increase your risk of blood clots and stroke if left untreated.

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

This life-threatening form of arrhythmia occurs when the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers) quiver instead of pumping blood. V-fib can cause a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, leading to collapse or cardiac arrest. Early detection and prompt intervention are important to boost the patient’s chances of survival.

Supraventricular Tachycardia

In the case of supraventricular tachycardia, you’ll experience a rapid heartbeat above your ventricles, which usually leads to palpitations, a pounding chest, lightheadedness, or shortness of breath. An episode can range from seconds to hours and can come without warning. It is not always dangerous, but it can be disruptive and uncomfortable to deal with.

Ventricular Tachycardia

This is another form of arrhythmia that happens in the ventricles and it may prevent the heart from pumping blood properly. It can cause symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, chest pain, and even fainting. VT can be serious, especially if it lasts longer than a few seconds, as it may progress to ventricular fibrillation.

2. Bradycardia—Slow Heartbeat

Bradycardia is characterized by a slower-than-normal heartbeat, usually under 60 beats per minute. Symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, fainting, or difficulty exercising. While sometimes harmless, severe bradycardia may require medical evaluation or intervention.

It usually occurs in two primary forms:

Sick Sinus Syndrome

Although it can be mild at first, sick sinus syndrome often requires medical evaluation to prevent worsening rhythm problems. When the sinus node, your heart’s natural pacemaker, doesn’t work as it should, this is called sick sinus syndrome. It can cause the heart to alternate between beating too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly. Symptoms typically include fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and fainting.

Conduction Block

A conduction block, or a heart block, happens when the electrical signals that travel through your heart are delayed or stopped. This could result in your heart beating slower or skipping beats entirely. You may also experience lightheadedness, fainting, or noticeable fatigue.

What Are the Symptoms of Heart Arrhythmia and When Should You See a Doctor?

You should see a doctor if you notice frequent or persistent irregular heartbeats, especially if accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

A fluttering, pounding or racing feeling in the chest
A fast heartbeat
A slow heartbeat
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Anxiety
Feeling very tired
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Sweating
Fainting or almost fainting
Heart palpitations

Heart Arrhythmia Diagnosis & Treatment

Because arrhythmias can present differently in each individual, it’s best for doctors to conduct a thorough evaluation. This will allow them to pinpoint the underlying cause and create a treatment plan tailored to your condition.

Diagnosis typically begins with a comprehensive review of your symptoms, medical history, and overall heart health. From there, your doctor may recommend one or more diagnostic procedures, such as an echocardiogram, an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a stress test, to assess your heart’s structure, rhythm, and electrical activity.

Heart Arrhythmia Treatments

Treatment for heart arrhythmia depends on the type, its severity, and your overall health. Your doctor will develop a personalized plan based on your specific diagnosis and symptoms.

Lifestyle recommendations are often the first step in managing mild arrhythmias. Improving your sleep habits, managing stress, and reducing caffeine or alcohol intake can help stabilize your heart rate and reduce episodes over time. If necessary, your doctor may also place you on medications to help regulate your heart. For complex cases, your doctor may recommend advanced procedures such as catheter ablation or the use of implantable devices, including pacemakers or defibrillators, which help regulate the heart’s rhythm automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have any questions, our team is here to help. You can speak with one of our board-certified specialists by booking a consultation, where we’ll review your symptoms, perform any necessary testing, and guide you toward the right next steps for your heart health.

What Is the Most Serious Type of Arrhythmia?

The most serious type of arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation (V-fib), a life-threatening condition where the heart’s lower chambers quiver instead of pumping blood.

What Is an Irregular Heartbeat?

An irregular heartbeat, also known as an arrhythmia, occurs when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or inconsistently. It may feel like fluttering, skipping beats, or a sudden racing sensation.

What Heart Rate is Considered Abnormal?

A resting heart rate consistently below 60 beats per minute (bradycardia) or above 100 beats per minute (tachycardia) is generally considered abnormal.

How Is Arrhythmia Diagnosed?

Arrhythmia is diagnosed through tests that measure the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm. Some common procedures for running these tools include electrocardiograms (EKGs), Holter monitors, stress tests, and echocardiograms. After running these tests, a doctor then uses this information to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Schedule a personalized assessment and find out your treatment options.

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Dr. Moinakhtar Lala and Dr. Mehran J. Khorsandi of CACVI

Dr. M Lala, Dr. Mehran J. Khorsandi and Dr. V Lala

Meet Your Specialists

The Center for Advanced Cardiac and Vascular Interventions (CACVI) is led by Dr. M Lala, Dr. Khorsandi, and Dr. V Lala, who have over thirty years of practice with over 15,000 vascular and cardiac procedures performed. Our physicians are determined to provide each patient with experienced, compassionate care as they work diligently to improve your health.