What Is a Heart Attack?
3. Causes
Heart attacks are caused by blockages in the coronary arteries, which help supply oxygenated blood to the heart’s muscles. These blockages are often a result of atherosclerosis. This is a condition where fatty deposits and other substances accumulate on the walls of the patient’s blood vessels.
These buildups can harden into what are known as plaques and, as they accumulate, they can begin to restrict the flow of blood through the blood vessels. When the flow of blood is impeded too much, a heart attack can occur. Another potential cause is spasms of the coronary artery preventing blood from flowing through.
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