Sunday, July 17, 2011

What is a Heart Attack

Heart attacks can occur suddenly, with or without any warning signs. Unfortunately, most of the times, the signs of an impending heart attack are put off as indigestion or gas, which is quite wrong since it can take an ugly turn. The heart is a chief organ of the circulatory system, which supplies rich, oxygenated blood to every nook and corner of the body.
This is possible due to the continuous pumping action of the organ, which transports blood through channels called arteries and veins. Here is a briefing regarding what is a heart attack. You may also refer to this Buzzle article on how to detect a heart attack for more awareness.

In medical terminology, a heart attack is known as a myocardial infarction, which literally means death of the cardiac muscle. The types of heart attacks are categorized based on the region and cause of the infarction. Age, arterial blockage due to accumulation of fat and plaque, and several other reasons are responsible for experiencing a heart attack. A person who is a victim of heart attack may experience stabbing pain in the chest and may also feel as if someone has placed a heavy boulder on his chest. Observing the heart attack signs and symptoms early will prove beneficial in avoiding the severity of this distressing health disorder. Now that you know what is a heart attack, let us take a look at the causes and symptoms, as observed in men and women.

What are the Possible Causes of a Heart Attack?

A heart attack may be caused due to a number of reasons, owing to unhealthy lifestyles and practices, improper blood supply to the cardiac muscles and in some cases even genetic. Here are some of the known heart attack causes that should receive prompt medical intervention, to avoid this health disorder from proving to be fatal.
  • Age is one of the highest risk factors when it comes to a heart attack. Individuals, especially men who are above the age of 45 are considered to be susceptible to a heart attack. Women above 55 years of age are also liable of suffering from myocardial infarction.
  • Another causative factor for this heart disease is clogging of arteries due to plaque. This presence of plaque constricts the blood vessels and considerable lowers the amount of blood supplied to the heart. This may cause weakening in the cardiac muscles and hamper their functioning.
  • Angina is a condition caused due to deficiency of oxygen in the heart. This disorder can put a person at a higher risk of suffering from a cardiac arrest, since the heart muscles are deprived of much needed oxygen.
  • What we eat also plays a role in determining if we would have a cardiac arrest or no. An improper diet plan and diabetes can contribute towards a myocardial infarction.
  • Being obese or overweight can increase the blood cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol may facilitate the formation of blood clots, which may clog the arteries and cause a hindrance to proper blood circulation. This can affect the heart and result in congestive heart failure.
  • Other factors that are responsible for a heart attack are smoking, alcoholism, previous history of heart attack, genetic, inactivity, heart surgery that may lead to complications, and high blood pressure (or hypertension), etc.
Heart Attack Symptoms


So what is a heart attack like? Reading the warning signs of a heart attack, instead of overlooking them can prevent this condition from becoming intense.
  • Experiencing a catch in the chest region, followed by chest pain and breathlessness is one of the early signs of heart attack.
  • The common heart attack symptoms in women and men is noticing discomfort and a feeling of heaviness in the chest region.
  • One of the massive heart attack symptoms is excruciating pain in the chest, and which may radiate towards the left arm and neck. Breathlessness, rapid heartbeats and fainting spells are also observed in such individuals.
  • Heart murmur, sweating profusely, confusion, restlessness are also indications of a cardiac arrest.
  • Some other heart attack symptoms include nausea, pale appearance of the face, coughing, eyes rolling backwards and also a feeling of terror, that you may be dying.
Now that you are aware of what is a heart attack, with its causes and symptoms, help yourself or others who may be suffering from a heart attack and save a life. Timely medical intervention and heart attack treatment options can help the individual and also prevent complications in the worst case. It is also necessary to follow a proper lifestyle and quit vices for good heart health. Hope you found this brief snapshot on what is a heart attack to be an informative one. Stay healthy!

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