WHAT IS A HEART ATTACK (MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION) AND WHAT CAUSES IT?
The heart is the human body’s hardest working organ. Throughout life it continuously pumps blood enriched with oxygen and vital nutrients through a network of arteries to all parts of the body’s tissues. In order to perform the arduous task of pumping blood to the rest of the body, the heart muscle itself needs a plentiful supply of oxygen-rich blood, which is provided through a network of coronary arteries. These arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart’s muscular walls (the myocardium). Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart attacks, which occurs when blood flow to the myocardium is interrupted. In general, in patients with coronary artery disease, the presence of one of three of the following syndromes suggests different degrees of severity. Stable Angina. Angina is the primary symptom of coronary artery disease and is typically experienced as chest pain. Stable angina is predictable chest pain and can usually be managed with life-style measures and medicatio
