What are the causes of Heart attack
Causes of Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when one or more of your coronary arteries
become blocked. Over time, a coronary artery can narrow from the buildup of
various substances, including cholesterol (atherosclerosis). This condition,
known as coronary artery disease, causes most heart attacks. Medical Coding Training Hyderabad
During a heart attack, one of these plaques can rupture and
spill cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. A blood clot forms
at the site of the rupture. If large enough, the clot can completely block the
flow of blood through the coronary artery.
Another cause of a heart attack is a spasm of a coronary artery
that shuts down blood flow to part of the heart muscle. Use of tobacco and of
illicit drugs, such as cocaine, can cause a life-threatening spasm. A heart
attack can also occur due to a tear in the heart artery (spontaneous coronary
artery dissection).
Risk factors
Certain factors contribute to the unwanted buildup of fatty
deposits (atherosclerosis) that narrows arteries throughout your body. You can
improve or eliminate many of these risk factors to reduce your chances of
having a first or subsequent heart attack.
Heart attack risk factors
include:
·
Age. Men age 45 or
older and women age 55 or older are more likely to have a heart attack than are
younger men and women.
·
Tobacco. Smoking and
long-term exposure to secondhand smoke increase the risk of a heart attack.
·
High blood pressure. Over time,
high blood pressure can damage arteries that feed your heart by accelerating
atherosclerosis. High blood pressure that occurs with obesity, smoking, high
cholesterol or diabetes increases your risk even more.
·
High blood cholesterol or
triglyceride levels. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the
"bad" cholesterol) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of
triglycerides, a type of blood fat related to your diet, also ups your risk of
heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) lowers your risk of heart
attack.
·
Diabetes. Insulin, a
hormone secreted by your pancreas, allows your body to use glucose, a form of
sugar. Having diabetes — not producing enough insulin or not responding to
insulin properly — causes your body's blood sugar levels to rise. Diabetes,
especially uncontrolled, increases your risk of a heart attack.
·
Family history of heart attack. If your
siblings, parents or grandparents have had early heart attacks (by age 55 for
male relatives and by age 65 for female relatives), you may be at increased
risk.
·
Lack of physical activity. An inactive
lifestyle contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who
get regular aerobic exercise have better cardiovascular fitness, which
decreases their overall risk of heart attack. Exercise is also beneficial in lowering
high blood pressure.
·
Obesity. Obesity is
associated with high blood cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high
blood pressure and diabetes. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight can
lower this risk, however.
·
Stress. You may
respond to stress in ways that can increase your risk of a heart attack.
·
Illegal drug use. Using
stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, can trigger a spasm of your
coronary arteries that can cause a heart attack.
·
A history of preeclampsia. This
condition causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and increases the
lifetime risk of heart disease.
·
A history of an autoimmune
condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Conditions
such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune conditions can increase
your risk of having a heart attack.
Complications
Complications are often related to the damage done to your heart
during an attack. Damage can lead to:
·
Abnormal heart rhythms
(arrhythmias). Electrical "short circuits" can develop, resulting
in abnormal heart rhythms, some of which can be serious, even fatal.
·
Heart failure. An attack may
damage so much heart tissue that the remaining heart muscle can't adequately
pump blood out of your heart. Heart failure may be temporary, or it can be a
chronic condition resulting from extensive and permanent damage to your heart.
·
Heart rupture. Areas of
heart muscle weakened by a heart attack can rupture, leaving a hole in part of
the heart. This rupture is often fatal.
·
Valve problems. Heart valves
damaged during a heart attack may develop severe leakage problems.
Prevention
It's never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack —
even if you've already had one. Here are ways to prevent a heart attack.
·
Medications. Taking
medications can reduce your risk of a subsequent heart attack and help your
damaged heart function better. Continue to take what your doctor prescribes,
and ask your doctor how often you need to be monitored.
·
Lifestyle factors. You know the
drill: Maintain a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet, don't smoke,
exercise regularly, manage stress and control conditions that can lead to heart
attack, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Medical Coding Training Hyderabad
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