Heart Attack - Description



Heart attack is the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year. About one-third of them die from the heart attack.

The conditions leading to a heart attack often develop over many years. Like all organs in the body, the heart requires a constant supply of blood. It gets that blood from arteries that lead into the heart. In some cases, plaque (pronounced PLAK) may build up on artery walls. Plaque is a collection of cells deposited on the walls of the artery. Over time, the plaque becomes larger and larger. Eventually, it greatly reduces the amount of blood reaching the heart. The plaque can also close off the artery entirely. When that happens, the blood supply to the heart is completely cut off. In such cases, heart cells die and a heart attack occurs.

Anticoagulant:
Able to prevent a blood clot from forming.
Coronary:
Referring to the heart.
Myocardial infarction:
The technical term for heart attack.
Plaque:
A deposit of fatty material and other substances that forms on the lining of a blood vessel.
Thrombolytic:
Capable of dissolving a blood clot.

The prognosis for a heart attack depends greatly on how quickly it is treated. The longer the blood supply is reduced, the more heart muscle cells die.

About one-fifth of all heart attacks are "silent." The patient usually feels no pain. He or she does not realize that a heart attack has occurred. Still, silent heart attacks can cause damage to the heart.

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