A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. This blockage is often caused by a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When the blood flow is reduced or blocked, the affected part of the heart muscle can't get the oxygen it needs, leading to tissue damage or death.

1. Heart Attack
A heart attack, medically known
as a myocardial infarction (MI),
occurs when the blood flow to a
part of the heart muscle is
blocked or reduced for an
extended period.
The blockage is usually caused by
a buildup of plaque
(atherosclerosis) in the coronary
arteries, which supply oxygen-
rich blood to the heart muscle.

2. Definition
A heart attack, also known as a
myocardial infarction (MI), occurs
when blood flow to a part of the
heart muscle is blocked. This
blockage is often caused by a
buildup of plaque in the coronary
arteries, leading to a lack of oxygen
and nutrients to the heart muscle.

3. Symptoms
Common symptoms of a heart
attack include chest pain or
discomfort (often described
as pressure, squeezing,
fullness, or pain that may
spread to the arms, neck,
jaw, or back), shortness of
breath, nausea,
lightheadedness, and
sweating. However,
symptoms can vary, and not
everyone experiences chest
pain.

4. Risk Factors
Several factors can increase
the risk of a heart attack,
including smoking, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol,
obesity, diabetes, a sedentary
lifestyle, a family history of
heart disease, and stress.

5. Causes
Most heart attacks are caused
by a blockage in one or more of
the coronary arteries, which
supply oxygen-rich blood to the
heart muscle. This blockage is
often due to the buildup of
plaque (atherosclerosis) in the
arteries.

6. Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a heart attack
typically involves a combination
of medical history, physical
examination, blood tests (such
as cardiac enzymes),
electrocardiogram (ECG or
EKG), echocardiogram, and
possibly other imaging tests
(such as a coronary angiogram).

7. Treatment
Immediate treatment for a heart
attack often involves medications to
help dissolve blood clots
(thrombolytics), procedures to
restore blood flow to the heart (such
as angioplasty and stenting), and
medications to relieve symptoms and
prevent further complications (such
as aspirin, beta-blockers, ACE
inhibitors, and statins). In some
cases, surgery (such as coronary
artery bypass grafting) may be
necessary

8. Complications
Complications of a heart attack can
include arrhythmias (irregular
heartbeats), heart failure (when the
heart cannot pump enough blood to
meet the body's needs), cardiogenic
shock (a severe form of heart
failure), and sudden cardiac arrest
(when the heart suddenly stops
beating).

9. Thanks
Alshifa Healthcare Services
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