What Is a Heart Attack?
According to the American Heart Association, someone dies from heart and blood vessel disease every 34 seconds in the US.
It is America’s number-one killer. A "coronary" or heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. This blockage often results from a clot because the arteries that supply the heart with blood are affected by fat, cholesterol, and other substances called plaque.
If the plaque breaks open and a blood clot forms, it can block the flow of blood to the heart. Without blood to nourish the muscle in the heart, it begins to die. The longer the artery remains blocked, the more damage is done until the muscle supplied by that artery is completely dead.
The left lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it out to the body under high pressure through the aorta.
When the heart muscle tissue has been scarred from a heart attack to the point it is not as effective as it should be, it does not pump enough blood to the rest of the body. This is known as left ventricular dysfunction or LVD.
LVD is often diagnosed after a heart attack. In some cases, it develops over time and is not diagnosed right away. There may be no symptoms with LVD, but they could develop if the heart muscle continues to weaken. This will lead to symptoms of heart failure.
Major Causes and Risk Factors
The plaque that builds up in the arteries can eventually rupture and cause a blood clot in a coronary artery.
This is a major, underlying cause of heart attacks. Factors that increase your risk for narrowed coronary arteries - and thus a heart attack - include family history of heart disease, a high level of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
According to the American Heart Association, someone dies from heart and blood vessel disease every 34 seconds in the US.
It is America’s number-one killer. A "coronary" or heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. This blockage often results from a clot because the arteries that supply the heart with blood are affected by fat, cholesterol, and other substances called plaque.
If the plaque breaks open and a blood clot forms, it can block the flow of blood to the heart. Without blood to nourish the muscle in the heart, it begins to die. The longer the artery remains blocked, the more damage is done until the muscle supplied by that artery is completely dead.
What is LVD?
The left lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it out to the body under high pressure through the aorta.
When the heart muscle tissue has been scarred from a heart attack to the point it is not as effective as it should be, it does not pump enough blood to the rest of the body. This is known as left ventricular dysfunction or LVD.
LVD is often diagnosed after a heart attack. In some cases, it develops over time and is not diagnosed right away. There may be no symptoms with LVD, but they could develop if the heart muscle continues to weaken. This will lead to symptoms of heart failure.
Major Causes and Risk Factors
The plaque that builds up in the arteries can eventually rupture and cause a blood clot in a coronary artery.
This is a major, underlying cause of heart attacks. Factors that increase your risk for narrowed coronary arteries - and thus a heart attack - include family history of heart disease, a high level of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
These risk factors are described in detail below:
- High blood pressure is usually defined as 140/90 mmHg or more. Slight fluctuations are normal. However, if the pressure remains high for a long period of time, there is increased danger that it will speed up atherosclerosis or the buildup of fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
- High cholesterol is one of the main reasons that blood vessels become clogged and narrower than they should be. If you have too much cholesterol, you increase the risk of narrowing your arteries and thus the risk of having a heart attack. Some cholesterol, called high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, is good; but the low density type (LDL) is bad. This comes mainly from foods that are high in fats and cholesterol.
- Cigarette smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke can do more damage than just cause lung cancer. It is also responsible for depositing cholesterol on the walls of the blood vessels.
- Not enough exercise can be a risk factor for heart attacks. Physical activity and regular exercise help to keep your blood pressure in control and also help to reduce your cholesterol.
- Being overweight is a risk factor for heart attacks because it can indicate that you do not get enough exercise and do not eat properly. People who also have diabetes may be at increased risk for heart disease. Diabetes refers to the inability of the body to produce enough of a hormone called insulin or the inability of your body’s insulin to process blood sugar properly. Having diabetes can result in increased cholesterol levels.
- Too much stress and tension in your life can increase your blood pressure, which can put you at risk for a heart attack.
- Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and triglyceride levels, and that can increase your risk for a heart attack.
- Of course, some people are more prone to heart attack because of family history. If you have close relatives who have had heart attacks, you might be at risk as well.
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