| Heart attack, medically known as Myocardial | | | | irreversible death of the heart muscle |
| Infarction, is the sudden stoppage of the | | | | supplied by that artery (myocardial |
| heart due to death or damage to a large part | | | | infarction) and precipitates a 'heart attack' |
| of the heart muscles known as myocardium. It | | | | i.e. the sudden stop of heart beat.Coronary |
| is widely acknowledged that heart related | | | | heart disease, the commonest underlying cause |
| conditions (cardiovascular diseases) are the | | | | of heart attack, as with several other |
| number one cause of death and disability in | | | | cardiovascular conditions has been associated |
| the United States and most parts of the | | | | with a number of risk factors; however, a |
| civilized world, today. And sudden death, | | | | family history of coronary heart disease |
| from heart attack is by far the most common | | | | appears to be one of the strongest risk |
| consequence of cardiovascular diseases.We | | | | factors. Also, men are more likely to suffer |
| have all seen someone, seemingly healthy days | | | | a heart attack than women, though after |
| or hours before, suddenly slump and die. | | | | menopause, the risk of women approaches that |
| This is the kind of death or disability that | | | | of men, especially with hormonal therapies, |
| heart attack visits on its victims. Of the | | | | which tend to increase a woman's risk of CHD. |
| numerous types of cardiovascular conditions, | | | | Other risk factors include: Smoking, |
| the one that is most likely to lead to a | | | | diabetes, hypertension, obesity (especially |
| heart attack is what is known as Coronary | | | | central or female-type obesity), a chronic |
| Heart Disease (CHD) or more appropriately, | | | | sub-clinical lack of vitamin C, elevated |
| Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).Coronary | | | | homocysteine levels, elevated blood levels of |
| arteries are the vessels (arteries) that | | | | asymmetric dimethylarginine and also |
| carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscles | | | | 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 | | | | prevention of CHD and hence, heart attack, is |
| of the heart). This condition is | | | | usually achieved through the modification of |
| characterized by the slow and gradual buildup | | | | risk factors. Leading an active life style |
| of fatty deposits (fat streaks, plaques or | | | | with frequent exercise, cessation of smoking, |
| atheromatous streaks) in the walls of the | | | | maintaining a low-fat, low-calorie diet and |
| coronary arteries. Initially, these | | | | decreasing blood cholesterol levels, |
| atheromatous streaks/plaques expand into the | | | | especially Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are |
| walls of the arteries, but subsequently, they | | | | crucial to preventing heart attack. Exercise |
| start building up and growing into the lumen | | | | and healthy diet have been shown to have |
| of the affected arteries, narrowing such | | | | profound effect on cardiovascular risks, |
| arteries and obstructing blood flow. This is | | | | although, cessation of cigarette smoking can |
| known as atherosclerosis.As the build up of | | | | also profoundly reduce the risk of heart |
| the plaques continue, over the years, the | | | | attack.It is important to note that despite |
| plaques increase in thickness and the degree | | | | the increasingly growing number of deaths |
| of obstruction of blood flow to the heart | | | | recorded as a result of heart related |
| muscles becomes severe. Though, the buildup | | | | conditions, cardiovascular diseases can still |
| of the plaques takes a very long time to | | | | be prevented, or at least delayed, in most |
| completely occlude the lumen of an artery and | | | | cases, contrary to general beliefs. The |
| result in heart attack, however, sudden | | | | increasing number of deaths recorded in most |
| rupture of a plaque usually speeds up the | | | | western countries is mainly due to unhealthy |
| process. The rupture of plaque activates the | | | | lifestyles; such as smoking, lack of physical |
| blood clotting system and the clot-plaque | | | | activity and unhealthy eating habits; and |
| interaction fills the lumen of such artery to | | | | worst still, the unwillingness to modify |
| the point of sudden closure. Such sudden | | | | these lifestyles in most individuals. |
| occlusion of a coronary artery causes | | | | |