What Causes a Heart Attack?

There are a number of things that can cause a heart attack. it can be the result of too much (LDL), or the bad cholesterol. This is a fat like substance that builds up in the arteries and clogs them up. When the arteries are clogged or blocked it is very difficult for blood to flow through the arteries. The build up in the arteries is actually called plaque. Sometimes the plaque can break free and lodge in the arteries which, causes a blood clot. A blood clot can make it difficult for blood to flow through the artery. This blockage also keeps oxygenated blood from reaching the heart muscle. Without enough oxygen the heart muscle can be significantly damaged.

Smoking

If you smoke then you may want to quit as soon as possible. When you smoke the tobacco can actually cause harm to your blood vessel walls. Another damaging aspect is smoking is due to the fact that it helps to expedite the clogging of your arteries. This can actually raise your blood pressure and in this particular state the heart has more work to. Stop smoking now and eventually you will decrease your stroke risk to the same level as someone who doesn't smoke. In order to get to this level of risk for stroke it may take as much time five years. This gives your system time to clean it self up and repair the effects that have been done by smoking.

High blood pressure

Any one with high blood pressure is at risk for a heart attack. if you have ever gone to the doctor's office and had your blood pressure checked they probably gave you a reading in the format of two different numbers. Does 120 over 80 sound familiar? (120/80). This number is, for the most part, where you want to be. If your numbers are higher than this then you probably have high blood pressure. Let's take a look at these numbers to see what exactly do they mean? The first number or the numerator tells you the level of pressure for your arteries when the heart is working or beating. The denominator demonstrates the level of pressure for your arteries when the heart is not doing anything or resting.

You should be concerned if the top number is higher than 135 and the bottom number is somewhere in the area of 90 or more. It's a good idea to keep an eye on your blood pressure because if it gets too high a lot of stress is generated on the blood vessel walls. Ultimately this situation can cause bleeding or even blood cots.

Your blood pressure is always one of the first things that a doctor will check when you visit their office because they know how important it is to keep your blood pressure under control.

High Cholesterol

The bad cholesterol or LDL can build up in your arteries and the arteries can become clogged which stops blood flow to the heart. If LDL increases to such high levels on your artery walls plaque can start to form and contribute to the stoppage of blood flow.

Alcohol consumption

A lot of people like to have a drink now and then but if you start to drink excessively then you can run into some problems. Excessive use of alcohol will actually increase your blood pressure and this can definitely lead to a stroke and heart failure.

Obesity

When you are over weight everything has to do more work. A tremendous amount of stress is placed on the circulatory system. This is not the only problem associated with excessive weight. When you are obese your chance of having diabetes, high blood pressure and an excessive level of cholesterol all increase.

This is why a good exercise program is good. Before you start en exercise program always consult with your doctor because they can give you an idea of what's too much. If you have not been exercising for years you probably want to take it easy and start out with something like walking which is not likely to put a lot of stress and strain on your body.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA2DuxCcO4g

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/12/healthandwellbeing

Source: http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20256022,00.html

Source: http://www.allina.com/ac/hearthealth.nsf/page/HeartBrainAttackRisks

Source: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1825044,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics