Definition

A heart attack is caused by the death of, or damage to, part of the heart muscle. Heart attacks usually occur because the supply of blood to the heart muscle is greatly reduced or stopped. A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction (pronounced my-uh-KAR-dee-al in-FARK-shun).

Description

Heart attack is the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year. About one-third of them die from the heart attack.

The conditions leading to a heart attack often develop over many years. Like all organs in the body, the heart requires a constant supply of blood. It gets that blood from arteries that lead into the heart. In some cases, plaque (pronounced PLAK) may build up on artery walls. Plaque is a collection of cells deposited on the walls of the artery. Over time, the plaque...