| Heart attack, medically known as Myocardial | | | | irreversible death of the heart muscle supplied by |
| Infarction, is the sudden stoppage of the heart | | | | that artery (myocardial infarction) and precipitates |
| due to death or damage to a large part of the | | | | a 'heart attack' i.e. the sudden stop of heart |
| heart muscles known as myocardium. It is widely | | | | beat.Coronary heart disease, the commonest |
| acknowledged that heart related conditions | | | | underlying cause of heart attack, as with several |
| (cardiovascular diseases) are the number one | | | | other cardiovascular conditions has been |
| cause of death and disability in the United States | | | | associated with a number of risk factors; |
| and most parts of the civilized world, today. And | | | | however, a family history of coronary heart |
| sudden death, from heart attack is by far the | | | | disease appears to be one of the strongest risk |
| most common consequence of cardiovascular | | | | factors. Also, men are more likely to suffer a |
| diseases.We have all seen someone, seemingly | | | | heart attack than women, though after |
| healthy days or hours before, suddenly slump and | | | | menopause, the risk of women approaches that |
| die. This is the kind of death or disability that | | | | of men, especially with hormonal therapies, which |
| heart attack visits on its victims. Of the numerous | | | | tend to increase a woman's risk of CHD. Other |
| types of cardiovascular conditions, the one that is | | | | risk factors include: Smoking, diabetes, |
| most likely to lead to a heart attack is what is | | | | hypertension, obesity (especially central or |
| known as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) or more | | | | female-type obesity), a chronic sub-clinical lack of |
| appropriately, Coronary Artery Disease | | | | vitamin C, elevated homocysteine levels, elevated |
| (CAD).Coronary arteries are the vessels (arteries) | | | | blood levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine and |
| that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscles | | | | also importantly, sedentary or inactive |
| or myocardium. So, as the name implies, | | | | lifestyle.Beside some factors which cannot be |
| Coronary Artery Disease is a condition that | | | | controlled, such as hereditary and gender, |
| affects the coronary arteries (i.e. arteries of the | | | | prevention of CHD and hence, heart attack, is |
| heart). This condition is characterized by the slow | | | | usually achieved through the modification of risk |
| and gradual buildup of fatty deposits (fat streaks, | | | | factors. Leading an active life style with frequent |
| plaques or atheromatous streaks) in the walls of | | | | exercise, cessation of smoking, maintaining a |
| the coronary arteries. Initially, these atheromatous | | | | low-fat, low-calorie diet and decreasing blood |
| streaks/plaques expand into the walls of the | | | | cholesterol levels, especially Low density |
| arteries, but subsequently, they start building up | | | | lipoproteins (LDL) are crucial to preventing heart |
| and growing into the lumen of the affected | | | | attack. Exercise and healthy diet have been |
| arteries, narrowing such arteries and obstructing | | | | shown to have profound effect on cardiovascular |
| blood flow. This is known as atherosclerosis.As the | | | | risks, although, cessation of cigarette smoking can |
| build up of the plaques continue, over the years, | | | | also profoundly reduce the risk of heart attack.It |
| the plaques increase in thickness and the degree | | | | is important to note that despite the increasingly |
| of obstruction of blood flow to the heart muscles | | | | growing number of deaths recorded as a result of |
| becomes severe. Though, the buildup of the | | | | heart related conditions, cardiovascular diseases |
| plaques takes a very long time to completely | | | | can still be prevented, or at least delayed, in most |
| occlude the lumen of an artery and result in heart | | | | cases, contrary to general beliefs. The increasing |
| attack, however, sudden rupture of a plaque | | | | number of deaths recorded in most western |
| usually speeds up the process. The rupture of | | | | countries is mainly due to unhealthy lifestyles; such |
| plaque activates the blood clotting system and the | | | | as smoking, lack of physical activity and unhealthy |
| clot-plaque interaction fills the lumen of such | | | | eating habits; and worst still, the unwillingness to |
| artery to the point of sudden closure. Such | | | | modify these lifestyles in most individuals. |
| sudden occlusion of a coronary artery causes | | | | |