What Causes a Heart Attack?
Heart attack is the term given when the heart or cardiac muscle dies from lack of blood supply and is also known as myocardial infarction. Blood supply may be obstructed by a blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries which supplies blood to the heart muscle. When the heart muscle dies chest pain will occur along with electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue. This instability will in turn create ventricular fibrillation which is an “abnormal irregular heart rhythm whereby there are very rapid uncoordinated fluttering contractions of the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart”.
Ventricular fibrillation affects the beating and pumping pattern of the heart disabling it from supplying the brain with oxygen-rich blood. After five minutes the brain will suffer permanent damage and death may occur. Ventricular fibrillation accounts for a large number of heart attacks that occurs before the victim can reach any medical assistance or the emergency room.
Causes of Heart Attack
Tobacco and Smoking
Smoking damages the cells which line the blood vessels and the heart and speeds up the process of atherosclerosis (narrowing or clogging of the arteries). Clogged arteries will hinder the blood flow and oxygen to the heart and causes chest pains. Smoking increases the risk of blood clots which can suddenly cut off blood flow in the artery and cause a heart attack.
Hypertension
Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure inside the blood vessels both while the heart is beating and when it is at rest. High blood pressure occurs when the pressure within the blood vessels is too high. Blood pressure is the amount of force that blood applies to the walls of the vessels as it passes through, enough pressure is created to send it to all other parts of your body. High blood pressure can cause atherosclerosis, and if atherosclerosis takes place in heart vessels, oxygen supply to the heart muscles decreases, resulting in heart wall damage (Heart Attack).
Diabetes
Studies show that the heart muscle of diabetics uses a much higher percentage of fat for energy than that of non-diabetics, which increases the risk for heart attacks. Fat, sugar and protein are the sources of energy for the heart muscle, which receives blood from the coronary arteries. In diabetics these arteries will become blocked because of the high levels of sugar in the blood and the formation of plaque (from fat buildup); blocked arteries reduce blood flow and increase the risk of heart attack.
Obesity
Excess intake of calories that aren’t diminished in physical activity will create too much body fat. Obesity is a major risk for coronary heart disease (CAD) which leads to heart attack. Obesity elevates blood pressure levels while lowering HDL cholesterol which is “good” cholesterol that helps in lowering heart disease. Excess calories, saturated fat and cholesterol will raise the blood cholesterol levels which may result in heart disease including heart attacks.
Other causes for heart attacks: atherosclerosis which may occur from other causes outlined above; other heart disease, shock, severe injury, angina, and hemorrhage are included in an extensive list of causes.
For more information on What Causes a Heart Attack read:
Human Circulatory System Diseases