Causes

A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped because of a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries (blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle). This is usually caused by the build-up of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances) within the walls of the arteries themselves, a process called atherosclerosis. Plaques can become unstable and can eventually break away, causing a blood clot to form that can block the blood flow in the artery.

Risk factors for heart attack include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Smoking
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity (defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above)
• Diabetes
• Stress
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Family history of heart attack
• Pre-existing coronary heart diseases, including a previous heart attack or angina