A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the hearts arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. When a plaque ruptures, a blood clot quickly forms, which is the actual cause of the heart attack. Other causes of heart attacks include coronary artery spasm, a severe spasm or sudden contraction of a coronary artery that can stop blood flow to the heart muscle, and a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) due to carbon monoxide poisoning or a loss of normal lung function.

Risk factors for heart attacks include smoking, a high-fat diet, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being overweight or obese, and a sedentary lifestyle. Emotional stress, such as extreme anger, may also increase the risk of a heart attack.

Heart attack complications are often due to heart muscle damage, which can lead to irregular or atypical heart rhythms (arrhythmias), cardiogenic shock, and heart failure.

If you suspect you or someone youre with is having a heart attack, call 911 (or your local emergency services phone number) immediately. Time is critical in treating a heart attack, and a delay of even a few minutes can result in permanent heart damage or death.

To manage your risks for a heart attack, you can take steps to eliminate or reduce risk factors, such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.