Quick Information
Heart attack –
It can occur when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage of the blood due to cholesterol, fat, and other substances form a plaque in the arteries and feed the heart. In some cases, a plaque can rupture that forms a clot and blocks the flow of blood to the heart. Due to the interruption of blood flow, it can damage the heart muscle.
Symptoms of heart attack –
There are some of the symptoms of heart attack are as given below –
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Angina pain
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Sudden dizziness
The symptoms of heart attack are not the same for all people. Several people have mild pain, or others have more severe pain. Some of the people have no symptoms of a heart attack. The first symptom of heart attack is chest or angina pain and is caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the heart.
Causes –
A heart attack can occur when one or more of your coronary arteries becomes blocked. Sometimes, a buildup of fatty deposits such as cholesterol forms substances known as plaques that can narrow the arteries. This type of condition is called coronary artery disease that causes heart attacks.
A plaque can spill and rupture cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream during a heart attack. A blood clot forms at the site of the rupture and if the clot is large, it can shut down the flow of blood via the coronary artery. After that, it starving the heart of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia).
There is another cause of heart attack is a spasm of the coronary artery, which blocks the flow of blood to a part of the heart muscle. Tobacco and illicit drugs including cocaine can cause a life-threatening spasm in human beings. Now coronavirus may also harm the heart that results in a heart attack in any individual.
Risk factors –
There are several factors that are contributing to the unwanted buildup of fatty deposits, which narrows arteries throughout your body Some of the risk factors of heart attack are as given below –
High blood pressure
– High blood pressure may damage arteries, which leads to your heart and occurs due to some conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol that increase the risk of a heart attack.
Obesity
– It is linked with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and high triglyceride levels that may be responsible for a heart attack. If you lose weight by physical exercise or any other activities then it can lower the risk of heart attack.
Family history
– If your parents, grandparents, siblings have had early heart attacks in past then increases the risk of a heart attack.
Diabetes
– If you have diabetes due to obesity for some years then it may increase the risk of a heart attack.
Illicit use of drugs
– If you use any illicit drugs such as cocaine then it can trigger a spasm of your coronary arteries and cause a heart attack.
Age
– If the women’s age is 55 years and men’s age is 45 years then it is more likely to have a heart attack as compared with younger men and women.
High cholesterol
– A high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol or bad cholesterol can cause narrow arteries that increase the risk of a heart attack. But a high HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or good cholesterol can lower the risk of a heart attack.
Prevention –
If you are suffering from any heart disease then some of the steps to prevent a heart attack are as given below –
Lifestyle factors
– There are several lifestyle factors such as smoking, drink alcohol, or many more which are responsible for heart attack. If you avoid smoking and drink alcohol, lose weight, maintain blood pressure, and daily exercise then it lowers the risk of a heart attack.
Medications –
Take some medicines as prescribed by your doctor that can help your damaged heart function better and lower the risk of a heart attack.