A heart attack is an emergency medical condition that arises when the blood source to the heart is suddenly blocked by the formation of a blood clot. Insufficient blood flow to the heart results in severely damaging the heart muscle. In medical terminology, the heart attack is also referred to as a myocardial infarction or MI.
Symptoms You May Experience include:
- Chest pain: The chest pain is intense and radiates to the jaw, neck, arms and back.
- Shortness of breath
- Weariness
- Feeling apprehension.
Why Does Heart Attack Occur?
Coronary heart disease (CHD) primarily contributes to the heart attack. CHD is a condition in which coronary arteries (veins connected with the heart to supply blood) get filled up with deposits of cholesterol. Such deposits are termed as plaques. When a person experiences a heart attack, one of his/her plaques tears resulting in the formation of a blood clot in the affected area. Eventually, the clot blocks the blood flowing from coronary arteries to the heart, triggering a heart attack.
Aftermath of Heart Attack
- Cardiogenic shock: This is a condition where the heart tissues are so damaged that it is unable to pump out enough blood to the rest of the body.
- Heart rupture: The muscles, walls or valves of the heart splits apart
- Arrhythmia: After the heart attack, a person may experience irregularities in the heart beat.
These after effects of a heart attack may pose to be life-threatening if immediate medical intervention isn’t sought.
Risk Reduction of a Heart Attack
- Smoking cessation
- Weight reduction though diet and exercise (as per doctor supervision)
- Do physical workout regularly
- Intake of low-fat, and high-fibre diet
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption (limit alcohol consumption to 1 glass of wine a day)