How Does a Heart Attack Occur?
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What is a Heart Attack
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Your heart requires a steady supply of oxygen from the cardiac arteries. If they are blocked for even a few minutes, it can lead to damage or death of heart tissue. This can lead to an irregular heart beat or complete cardiac arrest. It can also make future heart attacks more likely. A heart attack is not the same as cardiac arrest, but is a common cause of it.
Causes of Heart Attacks
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Over decades, plaque can form in the arteries of the heart. Cholesterol builds up, stiffening and constricting the arteries. The body can compensate somewhat for this process: The arteries will enlarge to help offset the narrowing caused by the plaque, and the body will cover the plaque with a fibrous cap to stop it from rupturing and blocking the artery. Arteries are under much higher pressure than veins and constantly expand and contract under the force of the heart beat. All of that pressure can cause the plaque to rupture. Everything downstream of the block stops getting fresh oxygen, which causes cell death. Enough damage to the heart can kill the victim.
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Treatment
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If the heart attack causes the heart to stop beating regularly, the EMS team will use cardiopulmonary resuscitation or a defibrillator to start it up again. They might also give the heart attack victim a drug to break up the blood clot and stop further damage. Following a heart attack, the patient is given drugs such as aspirin to help reduce the chance of future heart attacks. He will undergo tests to see how well his heart is pumping. For example, he might walk on a treadmill while doctors monitor his heart. Usually, lifestyle changes are also necessary. The person may have to change his diet, get more moderate exercise and cut down on stress.
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