Heart Disease - Heart Attack

What is Heart Attack?

Other Names: Coronary Attack, Coronary Occlusion, Coronary Thrombosis, Myocardial Infarction

Description
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or blocked due to a narrowing in one of the coronary arteries. This usually occurs as a result of atherosclerosis. When platelets gather at the narrowing, they can form a clot that completely blocks the blood flow. If the blood supply is cut off for more than a few minutes, the muscle cells of the heart may be permanently injured or die from lack of oxygen.