WHAT IS HEART ATTACK?

You are not alone. There is always help. There is always hope.

A heart attack is a frightening experience. If you have had a heart attack, or are close with someone who has, YOU ARE NOT ALONE: tens of thousands of Americans survive.

As you work toward recovery, please use the following information and advices for better understanding on what has happened to you and how you can help your heart heal so you can live a healthier, longer life.

Your heart muscle needs oxygen to survive. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped completely. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly become thicker and harder from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, called plaque. This slow process is known as atherosclerosis. When a plaque in a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. This blood clot can block the blood flow through the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is starved for oxygen and nutrients, it is called ischemia. When damage or death of part of the heart muscle occurs as a result of ischemia, it is called a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI). About every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a myocardial infarction (heart attack).