A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries. The fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits are called plaques. The process of plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis. Sometimes, a plaque can rupture and form a clot that blocks blood flow. A lack of blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle.

1. HEART ATTACK
•Myocardial infarction is the death of heart muscle
from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a
blood clot.
•If blood flow is not restored to the heart muscle
within 20 to 40 minutes,
irreversible death of the heart muscle will begin to
occur.
•Muscle continues to die
for six to eight hours at
which time the heart
attack usually
is "complete.“

2. •A combination of cholesterol, other fatty
materials, calcium, and blood components
that stick to the artery wall lining.
•Reduce the blood's flow through an
artery.
•May become fragile and rupture.
•Thrombosis and embolism.
•This is what happens in most heart
attacks and strokes.
PLAQUE

3. •High blood cholesterol (especially LDL)
•Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke
•High blood pressure
•Physical inactivity
•Diabetes mellitus
•Male sex: Before age Obesity
NON–MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
•Age: Men 45 years of age and older and women 55 years of
age and older.
•Family history of premature atherosclerosis.
MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
•60, men are more likely to have heart attacks than women
are. After age 60, the risk is equal among men and women).
RISK FACTORS

4. Healthy weight
Healthy diet
Regular exercise
Stop smoking
Normal levels of blood cholesterol
Reduce high blood cholesterol
Controlling hypertension
Control blood glucose, if diabetic.
If stress is a problem, find ways to reduce
or control it.
PREVENTION