What Is A Heart Attack?

A heart attack is generally brought on after the blood supply to part of the myocardium, or the heart muscle, is severely reduced or stopped. This usually means that either one or more of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle, are blocked.

The cause of a blockage is usually plaque, which is deposits of fat-like substances, and the name of this process is called atherosclerosis. The plaque usually eventually bursts or ruptures and this can cause a 'snag' where blood clots can form and they block the arteries. This then leads to a heart attack.

If a heart attack lasts for longer than a few minutes, it is possible for the person to become disabled or they could even die. This is because the body cannot survive for very long without the heart and the heart relies upon the blood to keep it pumping. So depending upon how long the blood supply is stopped for, determines just how badly affected the person will be after the attack.

What people call "heart attack" is one of the chief causes of death in the Western World. In three out of four cases, the victim is a man, and the age is usually between fifty and seventy years.
A typical heart attack is often caused by "coronary thrombosis". In fact, many people simply call it a "coronary".  This is because it starts with the
coronary arteries, the two blood vessels that supply the heart with blood.
When one of these arteries become clogged, the blood supply of part of the heart is shut off. The tissue in this part of the heart begins at once to degenerate and die, just the same as if it had been wounded.
When one coronary artery becomes clogged, the smaller branches of the other artery take up the work over a period of time. After a while, most of the areas of the heart that have been cut off receive the blood they need.
If the second artery can carry on the work for both, the person lives. Fortunately, in most cases the second artery can do the job, providing the heart is spared from all strain during this period.
In many patients, a heart attack occurs after some unusual physical exertion, emotional upset, exposure to extreme cold, eating a heavy meal or any situation where the heart is called upon to do a bigger job than usual. These things do not actually cause the heart attack, but there is ' some relationship. In many cases, however, an attack can occur while a person is at rest.
The symptoms of a heart attack usually include pain beneath the breastbone. But the pain may also first be felt in the arms, neck, or left shoulder. There is sweating and shortness of breath. The victim may become pale and be in a state of shock, and the pulse may become weak. A person should immediately call a doctor if such symptoms appear.

A heart attack is caused by a blockage of normal blood flow to the heart muscle.