What Occurs During a Heart Attack?
The heart is the primary muscle the cardiovascular system. Its job is to pump blood throughout the entire body. This blood supply is carried by the coronary arteries, delivering oxygen and nutrients the body needs to function properly. Red blood cells or RBC's carry oxygen while White blood cells or WBC's fight off infections.
When a person is healthy, the artery walls are smooth and uniform in thickness, however, as time goes on, a high level of cholesterol circulates, causing fatty deposits called plaque to accumulate on the interior walls of the arteries.
As the plaque deposits onto the artery wall, it hardens making the artery narrower and not as flexible as it should be. This is called atherosclerosis. If atherosclerosis develops in the coronary arteries, it becomes a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD).
When these fatty deposits block blood flow to the heart, a heart attack becomes a risk. If the coronary artery is blocked 90% or more, the risk for a heart attack event becomes even greater. Finally, if the coronary artery is completely blocked, a heart attack is eminent.
Blood clots are another risk that can cause a heart attack. These clots form when a crack develops in the hardened plaque. Blood will accumulate in these cracks and begin to grow. As it grows, it will eventually shut off the blood supply, thus resulting in a heart attack.
The extent of damage the heart acquires during an attack depends largely on the location of the blockage and the speed of obtaining medical treatment. The longer it takes to get help the more extensive the heart damage. Fortunately, atherosclerosis can be prevented, thus lowering the risk of having a heart attack.
Lowering your risk factors for this disease as well as slowing its progression can be achieved. Losing excess weight, exercise, quitting smoking and adopting a low fat, low cholesterol diet are excellent starts.
In an ideal world everyone would get complete instructions and education on how to reduce their risk factors for heart disease, but due to shortened hospital stays this is not always possible. Take the time to educate yourself to stay healthy. - 17273
When a person is healthy, the artery walls are smooth and uniform in thickness, however, as time goes on, a high level of cholesterol circulates, causing fatty deposits called plaque to accumulate on the interior walls of the arteries.
As the plaque deposits onto the artery wall, it hardens making the artery narrower and not as flexible as it should be. This is called atherosclerosis. If atherosclerosis develops in the coronary arteries, it becomes a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD).
When these fatty deposits block blood flow to the heart, a heart attack becomes a risk. If the coronary artery is blocked 90% or more, the risk for a heart attack event becomes even greater. Finally, if the coronary artery is completely blocked, a heart attack is eminent.
Blood clots are another risk that can cause a heart attack. These clots form when a crack develops in the hardened plaque. Blood will accumulate in these cracks and begin to grow. As it grows, it will eventually shut off the blood supply, thus resulting in a heart attack.
The extent of damage the heart acquires during an attack depends largely on the location of the blockage and the speed of obtaining medical treatment. The longer it takes to get help the more extensive the heart damage. Fortunately, atherosclerosis can be prevented, thus lowering the risk of having a heart attack.
Lowering your risk factors for this disease as well as slowing its progression can be achieved. Losing excess weight, exercise, quitting smoking and adopting a low fat, low cholesterol diet are excellent starts.
In an ideal world everyone would get complete instructions and education on how to reduce their risk factors for heart disease, but due to shortened hospital stays this is not always possible. Take the time to educate yourself to stay healthy. - 17273
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse who loves to share her knowledge about Heart Disease in Women. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Heart Disease Atherosclerosis Treatment.
posted by X - Men at
6:37 PM
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