Heart Attack Causes

Mostly heart attacks happen due to coronary artery disease; it is the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Hardened plaque can break open, and attracts blood clot to form at the surface. A heart attack occurs if the blood clot is large enough to block most or cut off all of the blood supply to the artery.

Due to blockage oxygen rich blood cannot reach some parts of the heart muscle fed by the artery. Inadequate oxygen supply damages the heart muscle. If the blockage is not cleared quickly, the damaged heart muscle starts to die.

Heart attack may also happen due to problems with the microscopic blood vessels of the heart called micro-vascular disease. It is more common in women than in men.

Less common cause of heart attack is a sudden contraction (spasm – tightening) of the coronary artery that block blood flow through the artery. This contraction can occur in coronary artery that have or does not have coronary heart disease. It is still unknown what causes this coronary artery contraction, but mostly it is related to:

• When taking cocaine
• Cigarette smoking
• Mental stress or pain
• Exposing to cold temperatures

Next Heart Attack risks