Causes of Heart Attacks

Heart attacks are commonly referred to as the "silent killer." A heart attack is essentially the lack of oxygen-rich blood feeding the heart. Without oxygen-rich blood, the heart begins to die a section at a time. Many who suffer a heart attack don't realize they are at risk. There are simple steps you can take to prevent heart disease and lower your risk of a heart attack.

Atherosclerosis

• Blockage of an artery is the most common cause of heart attacks, usually by a blood clot that has formed within the walls of the artery. Blood clots generally form in arteries already affected by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque and other materials within the artery. Atherosclerosis can cause a heart attack in three ways. Fatty plaque can cut off the blood supply to an artery, plaque can tear from the artery wall and begin to form a blood clot, or narrowed arteries are left unable to carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

Artery Spasm

• An artery spasm is caused by the constriction of an artery, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart. The spasms can be caused by an embolus (a small blood clot), buildup of fatty tissues on the artery wall or blood clot formation due to plaque. Spasms do not cause a heart attack every time the artery is affected, but it can lead to permanent heart damage.

Drug Use

• Illicit narcotics such as cocaine, which speed up the cardiovascular system, can induce a heart attack. People who use cocaine on a regular basis run a high risk of heart attack due to increasing dosages of the drug to achieve a high. Crack users run an extremely high risk of heart attack due to the frequency in which they utilize the drug. A crack high generally lasts for a short time, is extremely addictive and causes the addict to seek use several times per day. Methamphetamines can cause similar problems due to their tendency of increasing the heart rate.

Medical Conditions

• If you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity or are overweight, you are at risk for a heart attack. These issues are compounded if the person is also a cigarette smoker, which greatly increases the risk. High blood pressure is easily diagnosed by your physician and can be treated with medication, just as high cholesterol and diabetes can be controlled. A controlled diet, exercise and healthy living habits can greatly reduce the risk of heart attack. People who are obese or grossly overweight should consult a physician for the best advice on treating their condition.

Risk Factors

• Some factors cannot be altered to prevent the risk of heart attack. Those factors include age, a history of coronary artery disease in your family, and women who have reached completion of menopause. You should consult your physician for testing and treatment advice if any of the mentioned risk factors are prevalent in your medical history.