What Causes Heart Attacks
Coronary Heart Disease is What Causes Heart Attacks most frequently. Coronary Heart Disease is often also called Coronary Artery Disease. This condition is best described as when your coronary arteries constrict and narrow because of deposits of plaque or atheroma building up on the inside walls of the blood vessel which can take several years to occur. Blood clots can form when pieces of this plaque become detached from the artery wall. If this clot travels up to your brain it can cause strokes. If it travels to your heart, then this is what causes heart attacks.
The coronary artery is the main blood vessel that supplies the oxygen that the heart needs to work. If this blood clot gets stuck in your coronary artery, it will restrict your heart of blood and oxygen and your heart muscle will not be able to function or pump blood correctly - this is a heart attack. This form of heart attack is often called Myocardial Infarction or more commonly, Coronary Thrombosis.
What are the common symptoms of a heart attack?
Every one may experience different symptoms or combination of symptoms if they are having a heart attack. Most common is a severe pain in the middle of the chest, but sometimes this can be just a mild chest tightening but enough to make you feel unwell like you have got really bad indigestion. This pain may spread to your neck and jaw, into your back or stomach and often down our arms, especially your left arm. You may also feel sick or dizzy and be short of breath, especially if your chest is tightening.
Urgent Medical Help should be sought. Call for an ambulance to take you direct to hospital if you suspect that you are having a heart attack. Speed is essential as the damage caused to your heart muscle is often limited by quick medical assistance.
Understanding what causes heart attacks can help you to change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of a heart attack in the future. Healthy lifestyle with healthy eating and light regular exercise can help.
