Does Artherosclerosis Cause Heart Attack
Back to Heart DiseaseWhat is Heart Disease
There are many types of heart disease. About 25% of all Americans have one or more types of cardiovascular disease.The major types of heart disease are atherosclerosis, coronary, rheumatic, congenital, myocarditis, angina and arrhythmia.
Heart disease can arise from congenital defects, infection, narrowing of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure, or disturbances.
The first stages of heart disease are lesions and cracks forming in the blood vessel walls normally at the points of highest pressure or stress (near the heart). The second stage is the body trying to repair itself by depositing fatty substances (cholesterol, lipoproteins) inside the blood vessels to fill the cracks.
Over time, without the proper body nutrient, vitamin C, to help keep the blood vessel walls from cracking and requiring constant repair, these fatty substances can begin to build up and clog the blood vessels causing stroke and heart attack
A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction or an MI. Myocardial refers to the myocardium, the heart muscle. Infarction is tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen
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The Death of the Heart Muscle
The death of the heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of blood supply is usually caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery, one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart muscle.Death of the heart muscle, in turn, causes chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue.The electrical instability of the heart causes ventricular fibrillation (chaotic electrical disturbances affecting the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart). Orderly transmission of electrical signals in the heart is important for the regular beating (and the efficient pumping) of the heart.
A heart undergoing ventricular fibrillation simply quivers and can not pump or deliver oxygenated blood to the brain. Permanent brain damage and death can occur unless oxygenated blood flow is restored within five minutes.
Many heart attack deaths are due to ventricular fibrillation that occurs before the victim can reach any medical assistance or the emergency room. These electrical disturbances of the heart can often be successfully treated with medications or other means by paramedics in the "field," or upon arrival to the hospital.
Approximately 90-95% of heart attack victims who reach the hospital survive. The 5-10% who later die are those who have suffered major heart muscle damage, or who suffer an "extension" or enlargement of their heart attack.
A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction or an MI. Myocardial refers to the myocardium, the heart muscle. Infarction is tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen.
What Causes a Heart Attack?
The most common cause of heart attack is the sudden blockage of one of the heart's arteries by a blood clot. These clots typically form in arteries that are already affected by atherosclerosis - that is, the arteries are narrowed by fatty deposits of plaque and other materials.Click Here to read the Seven Steps to a Healthy Heart
What causes heart failure?
Following are some common causes of heart failure.Coronary artery disease - Heart failure is closely associated with the major risk factors for coronary heart disease: smoking, high cholesterol levels, persistent high blood pressure, diabetic abnormal blood sugar levels and obesity. A single risk factor may be sufficient to cause heart failure, but a combination of factors dramatically increases the risk.
High blood pressure - Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of heart failure by 200 percent, compared with people who don't have hypertension. The degree of risk appears directly related to how severe the high blood pressure is.
Diabetes - People with diabetes have a two to eight times greater risk of heart failure compared to those without diabetes. Women with the condition have a greater risk of heart failure than men with diabetes. Part of the risk comes from the disease's association with other heart failure risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol levels. The disease process also damages the heart muscle.
Heart valve problems - Some people are born with or develop problems with these flap-like structures that help regulate blood flow through the heart.
Heart attack damage - A heart attack can leave the heart muscle damaged and this, in turn, can cause heart failure.
Genetic abnormalities - People can be born with valve problems, other birth defects, or diseases called cardiomyopathies that can cause damage to the heart muscle and resulting heart failure. With cardiomyopathy, the heart loses its ability to pump blood. Usually, the exact cause of the muscle damage is never found.
Heart Disease Prevention and Cure
Some forms of heart disease can be prevented.To prevent coronary heart disease, one must exercise consistently, have a low salt and low fat diet, restrain from smoking and lose a couple of pounds if overweight.
Healthy diets also help prevent heart disease
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What are the risk factors for heart disease
There are a number risk factors for heart disease. These include:Obesity - This can be treated through proper diet and exercise. Your doctor can help you develop a plan that works for you.
Diet - The U.S. Department of Agricultural guidelines recommend two to three servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables each day. Also, watch dietary cholesterol intake.
Red meat has much more cholesterol than fish or skinless chicken. Aim to decrease your consumption of red meat. There is increasing evidence that fish may be your healthiest option. Certain fish contain a polyunsaturated fatty acid, called omega-3.
Inactivity - Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for heart disease. The NHLBI suggests most people try to get 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Check with your doctor to assess risk factors for heart attack before starting any type of physical program.
Family History - Anyone with a family history of heart disease needs to have a thorough cardiology exam so a personalized heart disease prevention program can be implemented.
Diabetes - A complication of diabetes is heart disease. Studies show that long-term control of blood sugar can reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems down the road. Patients with diabetes are urged to talk to their physician about cardiovascular disease.
Hormones - Women rarely experience heart attacks before menopause. Researchers believe that estrogen offers some protection against the blood vessel blockage that causes heart attacks and strokes. But new research suggests that estrogen replacement therapy is not as protective as once thought. Certainly, hormone replacement isn’t for everyone – women need to discuss the benefits and risks with their physician.
Y! Health Heart & Vascular Health News
- Prevention clinics help control heart fatal (Reuters)
Reuters - In 1999, UK researchers reported that patients with coronary heart disease who attended nurse-led prevention clinics had reductions in death and heart disease events at one year. In 2003, the same team reported that patients who switched to the clinics later on had "caught up," to the point where there were no longer differences between the two groups. - Doctors match machines in spotting heart disease: study (AFP)
AFP - A routine examination by a doctor works almost as well as an electrocardiogram -- better known as an ECG or EKG -- in predicting heart disease, according to a study published Friday. - Heart Failure Accounts for 37% of Medicare Spending (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Nov. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure have many more doctor visits and take more medications than those without heart failure, researchers are reporting. - Illness beliefs shape prevention program adherence (Reuters)
Reuters - Individual beliefs about heart disease, including its symptoms, controllability, likely duration, and consequences influence adherence to secondary prevention regimens designed to reduce risk, researchers report. - Fat hormone may help predict heart failure: study (Reuters)
Reuters - High levels of a hormone made in fat cells may be a strong indicator of the onset of heart failure, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. - Beta Blocker Use Questioned in Non-Heart Surgery (HealthDay)
HealthDay - MONDAY, Nov. 10 (HealthDay News) -- An analysis of 33 studies on drugs known as beta blockers has concluded that they are not useful in any surgical procedure other than heart surgery. In fact, using beta blockers for non-coronary surgery may actually increase the risk of stroke, the scientists say. - Long-Term Help Regimen Cut Heart Attack Recurrence (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Heart attack survivors can significantly reduce their risk of non-fatal coronary recurrence by participating in an intensive, long-term prevention program, according to an Italian study that included 3,240 patients. - Study Questions Screening Heart Attack Patients for
Depression (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- There's not enough evidence to support a recent American Heart Association (AHA) call to automatically screen heart patients for depression, according to international experts who contend the "premature" recommendation would consume a vast amount of resources without any proof it would improve patient care. - After Decades, Decreases in Heart Risk Factors Level Off (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Three decades of a pronounced reduction in risk factors for heart disease is slowing considerably. - New test superior for detecting heart failure in ER (Reuters)
Reuters - A new blood test to identify heart failure patients in most dire need of treatment when they turn up at an emergency room complaining of shortness of breath proved better than current tests, according to results of a study unveiled on Tuesday.
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