Heart attack – Causes
What causes a heart attack?
Heart attacks are caused by a build up of plaque on the inside of the arterial wall. The composition of this fat is complex, but includes deposits of calcium salts, blood components, cholesterol crystals, and class of compounds called mucopolysaccharides. There are a number of known risk factors which contribute to heart attack which include:-
- Family history of ischaemic heart disease – disease caused by inadequate blood flow
- History of smoking, current or previous
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperlipidaemia – high concentrations of fat circulating in the blood streams
The classic symptom of a heart attack is a central chest pain that is often described as crushing, heavy or vice-like in nature. This sensation may radiate up the neck to the jaw or down the left arm, or sometimes both arms. The pain is similar to angina, but, unlike the latter, it is usually of greater severity, longer duration and often resistant to simple alleviating measures, such as rest and deep breathing.
Difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting and profuse sweating are commonly associated with the pain. Not surprisingly, a patient having a heart attack can be extremely distressed and agitated during the whole episode.
The majority of the patients display one or all of the classic symptoms described, but painless, silent myocardial infarction can occur, and this is an increasingly recognized symptom of a heart attack, particularly in the elderly.
Cyanosis is a common indicator of a heart attack. The bluish coloration and slight swelling occurs when blood becomes starved of oxygen, which will happen when the heart is not beating effectively.
