The Main Causes of Heart Attack

February 15th, 2010 | Under: Articles, Cardiovascular »

The most common causes of heart attack is actually the deposits of plaque thick layers on the inner arteries linings. Actually the common plaque constituents are fatty substances, calcium and cholesterol. The process of plaque building up on the inside large arteries walls usually starts in childhood, and it takes 30 or more years to raise to a really high level, when it may threaten a person’s life.

The plaque formation is commonly related to as atherosclerosis which becomes accelerated because of some particular conditions such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes, cholesterol.

When plaque levels rise, the flow of the blood to your heart is restricted. The decrease in blood the heart receives leads to substantial fall in the quantity of oxygen which reaches the heart. The myocardium which controls the blood flow in and out of your heart is badly affected with this factor. A full block in the arteries leads to a heart attack. Another potential cause of a heart attack is represented by coronary artery spasm. This may happen due to stress, smoking, adverse effects produced by narcotics.

If a person receives medical help in the first 2 hours of a heart attack, the likelihood of irreversible damage is lessened. In case one has a massive heart attack, a permanent myocardium damage and even death are not actually ruled out. The actual damage made to this heart muscle makes the heart disabled and thus it becomes not able to expand and contract, which further can result in some complications.

Heart attack may lead to arrhythmia that weakens the heart and may be fatal. Heart attacks add to valve problems. Valves control the direction of the blood flow.
Heart attack can also cause congestive heart failure. It can happen when the heart loses the ability to work as a pump for body circulation because of the damage evolved by heart attacks on the left ventricles’ muscles. Oxygenated blood does not reach the body organs in normal amounts and is accumulated in the heart. Oxygen lack in the body organs can provoke an increase in weight because of fluid accumulation, fatigue and some other conditions.

Myocardial rupture can also affect your body after heart attacks. But it is not like a frequent occurrence and normally shows up in the first 10 days after a heart attack.  The heart muscle section can rupture because of the pressure rise against weak heart walls. The pressure rise is caused by the incapability of your heart to pump the blood out. This type of muscle tear provokes severe bleeding which can result in death.

But it doesn’t mean that a person who had a heart attack will suffer all life. In case the damage is not serious, a person may recover and restart working in several months. But regular physical examinations are necessary to prevent heart attacks in future.

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