A heart attack, a coronary, myocardial infarction and heart failure are all common medical terms familiar to just about everyone. But what happens during a heart attack and how does it affect health and cause symptoms?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the Most Common Cardiovascular Disease
The heart works endlessly to supply blood to the body; however, it first supplies itself with oxygen infused blood to keep its own cells alive. Coronary arteries are narrow, branched arteries responsible for carrying blood to the cardiac (heart) muscle.
A heart attack occurs when blood supply to part of the cardiac muscle, called myocardium, is reduced or cut off altogether. This causes decreased oxygen to reach a portion of myocardium in the area of the heart that is affected, damaging or killing these cells. An infarction is a blockage or reduced flow to the myocardial cells.
Blockage in the coronary arteries is caused by the build-up of hard fatty or cholesterol plaque or deposits, which accumulate over time, narrowing the arteries. This is called atherosclerois or coronary artery disease (CAD). Symptoms of this include angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath during even normal amounts of physical activity.
Blood Clots Can Cause Heart Failure
When a blockage or clot occurs, the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart is interrupted and the area of the heart muscle supplied by that artery is damaged. Over time this can weaken the heart muscle and cause angina and arrhythmias (problems with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat). Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is so weak or damaged that it cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating and is not the same as a heart attack.
If the blood clot completely obstructs blood from streaming through the artery, the area of heart muscle that the artery feeds is suddenly deprived of oxygen, triggering a heart attack. Within minutes cardiac muscle cells begin to die. Spasm of the coronary arteries or not enough blood flow when the muscles are exerted, may also cause a heart attack.
The severity of a heart attack is determined by how long the blockage lasts, how much heart muscle is damaged as well as which part of the heart is affected. Most heart attacks are not fatal the first time they occur. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe, with almost a quarter of heart attacks being silent and without symptoms. Silent heart attacks occur most commonly in people with diabetes and are very dangerous as heart disease may then be left unknown and untreated.
CAD is the most common type of heart disease. Lifestyle and diet changes along with medicines, medical procedures or surgery can effectively prevent or treat CAD in most people. There is no cure for heart disease, but it can be prevented. See these related articles for more information:
- Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
- How Does Salt Increase Blood Pressure?
- Muscle Flexibility Linked to Artery Disease
Reference:
Noreen Kassem - Noreen Kassem is a hospital doctor based in London, UK. She has extensive experience in clinical research and an undergraduate honors ...
