A
heart attack (also called myocardial infarction) is when part of the
heart muscle is damaged or dies because it isn''t receiving oxygen.
Oxygen is carried to the heart by the arteries (blood vessels). Most
heart attacks are caused by a
blockage in these arteries. Usually the
blockage is caused by atherosclerosis, which is the
buildup of fatty
deposits (called plaque) inside the artery. This buildup is like the
gunk that builds up in a drainpipe and slows the flow of water.Heart
attacks can also be caused by a blood clot that gets stuck in a
narrow part of an
artery to the heart. Clots are more likely to form where
atherosclerosis has made an artery more narrow.
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