What is Heart attack?

A heart attack can be defined as a sudden stoppage of blood supply to any part of the heart leading to death of heart muscle in that part. It is usually signalled by acute chest pain, sweating and restlessness. Like any other organ of the body, the heart too requires oxygen for proper functioning. Oxygen is made available to it by way of oxygenated blood through coronary arteries — the blood vessels which carry blood to various parts of the heart. If any of the coronary arteries become narrow due to deposition of fatty material and calcium, blood flow to the heart is reduced, or may even be stopped altogether if a clot is formed, leading to a heart attack.

 

Thickening and narrowing of the coronary arteries can be prevented by diet control such as avoidance of too much fatty food high in cholesterol. Obesity, smoking and a family history of heart attacks are considered factors which may predispose one to heart attack. Heart attack victims may be treated with drugs which widen the narrowed coronary artery, or which dissolve the clot formed and make the blood dilute so that chances of clot formation are reduced. Another alternative is coronary by-pass surgery in which a by-pass is provided for the blood flow. The blocked arteries can also be opened up by a surgical procedure known as coronary angioplasty. In this process a balloon device attached to a catheter (a narrow tube) is inserted into the blocked coronary artery. The balloon is then inflated which opens up the blockage.