Heart Attack & its CausesHeart Attack & its Causesandand

What Harms Cardiac MusclesWhat Harms Cardiac MusclesBy NickBy Nick

What causes heart attacks?What causes heart attacks?

Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the build-up over time of a material called plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries.

Eventually, a section of plaque can break open, causing a blood clot to form at the site. A heart attack occurs if the clot becomes large enough to cut off most or all of the blood flow

through the artery.

What causes heart attacks?What causes heart attacks? The illustration shows a normal artery The illustration shows a normal artery

with normal blood flow (figure A) and with normal blood flow (figure A) and an artery containing plaque build-up an artery containing plaque build-up (figure B). (figure B).

The blocked blood flow prevents The blocked blood flow prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the oxygen-rich blood from reaching the part of the heart muscle fed by the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery. The lack of oxygen damages artery. The lack of oxygen damages the heart muscle. If the blockage isn’t the heart muscle. If the blockage isn’t treated quickly, the damaged heart treated quickly, the damaged heart muscle begins to die. muscle begins to die.

Heart attack also can occur due to Heart attack also can occur due to problems with the very small, problems with the very small, microscopic blood vessels of the microscopic blood vessels of the heart. This condition is called heart. This condition is called microvascular disease. It’s believed microvascular disease. It’s believed to be more common in women than in to be more common in women than in men.men.

What causes heart attacks?What causes heart attacks?

Another less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm Another less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery that cuts off blood flow through (tightening) of a coronary artery that cuts off blood flow through the artery. These spasms can occur in coronary arteries that don’t the artery. These spasms can occur in coronary arteries that don’t have CAD. It’s not always clear what causes a coronary artery have CAD. It’s not always clear what causes a coronary artery spasm, but sometimes it can be related to:spasm, but sometimes it can be related to:

– Taking certain drugs, such as cocaineTaking certain drugs, such as cocaine

– Emotional stress or painEmotional stress or pain

– Exposure to extreme coldExposure to extreme cold

– Cigarette smokingCigarette smoking

What Harms Cardiac Muscles?What Harms Cardiac Muscles?

Anger can harm heart muscles. It has been established through Anger can harm heart muscles. It has been established through medical examine that anger affects the heart muscle directly, and a medical examine that anger affects the heart muscle directly, and a person who is annoyed more often is further likely to face a puny person who is annoyed more often is further likely to face a puny heart muscle. This means that the capability of heart to pump blood heart muscle. This means that the capability of heart to pump blood would be condensed, causing cardiac trouble.would be condensed, causing cardiac trouble.

Anabolic steroid use and other drug use is now found to harm the Anabolic steroid use and other drug use is now found to harm the heart muscle even more than previously known. Long term anabolic heart muscle even more than previously known. Long term anabolic steroid use could even lead to heart failure according to new steroid use could even lead to heart failure according to new findings. findings.

Eating Disorders (i.e. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia). Every single Eating Disorders (i.e. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia). Every single muscle in the body is very much affected by the action of starvation. muscle in the body is very much affected by the action of starvation. The heart muscle can be severely affected and can decrease in size. The heart muscle can be severely affected and can decrease in size. Muscles in the body will begin to simply waste away.Muscles in the body will begin to simply waste away.

WHAT HARMS CARDIAC WHAT HARMS CARDIAC MUSCLES?MUSCLES?

Smoking - Cardiac muscles are controlled by the nervous system. Smoking - Cardiac muscles are controlled by the nervous system. When someone ingests chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and When someone ingests chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and carbon monoxide, the nervous system and the muscles in the carbon monoxide, the nervous system and the muscles in the heart sometimes get confused about when to pump bloodheart sometimes get confused about when to pump blood

Unhealthy diet eg. too many saturated fats, high cholesterol Unhealthy diet eg. too many saturated fats, high cholesterol intake, high salt intake etc) intake, high salt intake etc)

High Blood Pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, High Blood Pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and diabetes and diabetes

Healthy Heart Guidelines for Healthy Heart Guidelines for ChildrenChildren

Following a Healthy diet that consists of daily serves of:Following a Healthy diet that consists of daily serves of:

Grains (this includes bread, cereals, rice, pasta & noodles)Grains (this includes bread, cereals, rice, pasta & noodles) Vegetables Vegetables Fruit Fruit Dairy (this includes milk, cheese & yoghurt) Dairy (this includes milk, cheese & yoghurt) Protein (this includes lean meat, fish, chicken & eggs)Protein (this includes lean meat, fish, chicken & eggs)

Do not over indulged in high sugar & high salt foods, such asDo not over indulged in high sugar & high salt foods, such asChocolateChocolateBiscuitsBiscuitsSnack FoodsSnack FoodsSoft DrinksSoft Drinks

Be active and exercise 3-4 times per weekBe active and exercise 3-4 times per weekSoccerSoccerSwimmingSwimmingWalking and RunningWalking and Running