What is a
heart attack
A heart attack normally occurs when part of the heart muscle
is damaged or dies when it doesn’t receive enough oxygen. Oxygen is normally transferred
to the heart by blood flowing in the arteries that feed the heart muscle -
coronary arteries. Most heart attacks usually occur as a result of a blockage
in these arteries. The blockage is normally caused by atherosclerosis, a build-up
of fatty deposits inside the artery, and hardening of the artery walls. Heart
attacks can also be caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery, blocking blood
flow.