By Vivienne Balonwu in the category of Cardiovascular, Elderly Health

What Is Heart Attack?

heartattack Heart Attack Causes, Symptoms And SignsA heart attack (sometimes called a coronary, a coronary thrombosis, or a myocardial infarction or ‘MI’) is when part of the heart muscle stops working because not enough oxygen is able to reach it through the heart’s blood supply – the coronary arteries. Any heart tissue that stops working during a heart attack is replaced by scar tissue that is unable to work again and will not heal. Therefore the more heart tissue that is starved of oxygen, the less well the heart can function after a heart attack.

What Are The Causes Of Heart Attack?

The blood supply to the heart is usually stopped by a blood clot in the coronary arteries, causing the heart attack. The arteries are narrowed in places due to ‘plaques’ – a build-up of the fatty substance cholesterol over many years. As this build-up of cholesterol increases, the arteries narrow – a process known as atherosclerosis. This process is speeded up by many other things, including smoking, high blood pressure, too much fat in the diet and diabetes. Being at risk of having a heart attack may also be passed down a family, as having parents or other relatives who have had a heart attack can incease the risk of having a heart attack. Most heart attacks occur in middle-aged men, and are rare under the age of 35. Women tend to have their heart attacks after their menopause.

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