[PDF] Heart Attack - Health Information Translations - Musculation

How does a heart attack work?

To do its job—pump blood to every part of the body—the heart needs its own supply of oxygen-rich blood. That pipeline is provided by the coronary arteries. No wider than strands of spaghetti, these arteries deliver blood to hard-working heart muscle cells. A heart attack occurs when blood flow through a coronary artery is suddenly blocked.

How does plaque buildup affect a heart attack?

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. A heart attack occurs when an artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked.

What causes a heart attack?

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.

How do you treat a heart attack?

Call 911, or your local emergency number. The goal of treatment for a heart attack is to relieve pain, preserve the heart muscle function, and prevent death. Oxygen therapy to improve oxygenation to the damaged heart muscle Pain medicine to decrease pain. This, in turn, decreases the workload of the heart. The oxygen demand of the heart decreases.