A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked, causing pain, pressure, and possible death. Atherosclerosis and blood clots are the leading causes. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and arm and upper back pain. Routine health care is important, and any signs or symptoms should be checked out by a doctor. Delaying treatment increases the chance of permanent damage and even death. Injuries to the heart muscle can also lead to ventricular fibrillation and brain damage.
A heart attack is the death of heart muscle caused by a blockage of a coronary artery. Medically referred to as myocardial infarction, this condition occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked, depriving the heart of blood and oxygen. This deprivation of the heart causes pain and pressure in the chest, injury to the heart, and possibly death.
Even if a heart attack occurs suddenly, the cause can be sudden or gradual. The leading cause of heart attacks is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, due to the buildup of plaque caused by cholesterol deposits. If atherosclerosis occurs in the coronary arteries, the gradual narrowing of these arteries begins to take its toll on the heart muscle and eventually leads to a heart attack. Likewise, a blood clot can also create a blockage of a coronary artery which ends with the same result.
Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain and pressure, shortness of breath, arm and upper back pain along with possible nausea or vomiting. However, medical experts have estimated that nearly 25% of attacks are silent, giving the patient no warning symptoms. That’s why routine health care, including monitoring your risk factors and heart health, is important.
Whether a heart attack brings severe symptoms or no symptoms at all, the damage may be the same. A heart attack is considered a life-threatening emergency and any signs or symptoms, no matter how mild, should be checked out by a doctor. Delaying treatment increases the chance of permanent damage and reduced heart function or even death. The longer the heart is deprived of adequate blood flow and oxygen, the more damage is done. If enough heart muscle dies, heart failure will follow.
Additionally, injuries to the heart muscle can also lead to ventricular fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat caused by abnormal electrical activity. If the heart fails to beat and pump blood normally, the blood supply to other parts of the body, including the brain, is cut off. Brain damage can occur within minutes if you are deprived of the oxygen it needs.
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