What is Heart Attack?
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn't restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.
Figure A is an overview of a heart and coronary artery showing damage (dead heart muscle) caused by a heart attack.
Figure B is a cross-section of the coronary artery with plaque buildup and a blood clot.
Heart attack is a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. But fortunately, today there are excellent treatments for heart attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. If you think you or someone you're with is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 right away.
Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a condition called Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). In CAD, a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your heart). Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery.
You might be interested in:
- Pain in Heart Attack
- General overview on Heart Attack
- Are you at your first heart attack?
- What is a massive heart attack?
-
New articles
- Blood clots -- who is at risk and how to prevent them
- Smoking -- a habit which puts big risks on your heart health overtime
- Pain in Heart Attack
- Pain in heart angina
- Death can be predicted by heart rate in patients with stable heart disease
- A superglue can improve the quality of life in heart patients recovering from heart surgery
- False heart attack - disease that may mimic a myocardial infarction
-
Popular articles
- The pain in heart attack - location, irradiation and common signs
- False heart attack - disease that may mimic a myocardial infarction
- Nitroglycerin -- a solution for the angina pains
- Nature of the pain in Heart Attack
- 10 signs of heart attack
- Pain in heart angina
- A superglue can improve the quality of life in heart patients recovering from heart surgery
Resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
How to help an unconscious with heart attack?
Prevent Heart Attack moving... in the bed - Free exercises
Calculate your BMI
Calculate your Body Mass Index, see if you are overweight or not
Download a Free ebook
Understand better Heart Attack in 20 articles. Download a copy now!
Heart disease statistics
1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year (that's 1 heart attack every 20 seconds)
Emergency numbers
Do not ignore chest pain or discomfort if you think you might have a Heart Attack. Find the emergency phone numbers worldwide .
Women and Heart Attack
Read more on heart attack in women
Heart Attack in pregnancy
Cholesterol
Where does cholesterol come from?
Heart Attack Risks
10 signs of heart attack
What are the risk factors of heart attack? [video]
