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Heart Attack and Unstable Angina - Treatment for Complications

Heart attacks that damage critical or large areas of the heart tend to cause more problems (complications) later. If only a small amount of heart muscle dies, the heart may still function normally after a heart attack.

The chance that these complications will occur depends on the amount of heart tissue affected by a heart attack and whether medicines are given during and after a heart attack to help prevent these complications. Your age, general health, and other things also affect your risk of complications and death.

About half of all people who have a heart attack will have a serious complication. The kinds of complications you may have depend upon the location and extent of the heart muscle damage. The most common complications are:

Heart rhythm problems, called arrhythmias. These include heart block, atrial fibrillation, and possibly deadly ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
Heart failure, which can be short-term or can become a lifelong condition. Scar tissue eventually replaces the areas of heart muscle that are damaged by a heart attack. Scar tissue affects your heart's ability to pump as well as it should. Damage to the left ventricle can lead to heart failure.
Heart valve disease.
Pericarditis, which is an inflammation around the outside of the heart.

Treatment for heart rhythm problems

If the heart attack caused an arrhythmia, you may take medicines or you may need a cardiac device such as a pacemaker.

If your heart rate is too slow (bradycardia), your doctor may recommend a pacemaker. For more information, see:

Heart Rate Problems: Should I Get a Pacemaker?

If you have abnormal heart rhythms or if you are at risk for abnormal heart rhythms that can be deadly, your doctor may recommend an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). For more information, see:

Heart Rhythm Problems: Should I Get an ICD?

For information about living with a pacemaker or ICD, see:

Heart Problems: Living With a Pacemaker or ICD.

For information on different types of arrhythmias, see the topics:

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 26, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.