Alright, let’s kick things off with the basics. A heart attack, medically known as a myocardial infarction, happens when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked for long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies.
Usually, this blockage is caused by a buildup of plaque—a mix of fat, cholesterol, and other substances—on the walls of the coronary arteries.
When the plaque ruptures, a blood clot forms around it, blocking the blood flow. Without blood, the heart tissue can’t get the oxygen it needs, and that’s when the trouble starts. Think of it like a traffic jam in your arteries. The longer the jam lasts, the worse the damage.
Now, during a heart attack, several things are happening in your body. Your heart muscle is starving for oxygen, and it’s sending out distress signals. You might feel intense chest pain, discomfort in other parts of your upper body, shortness of breath, and maybe even nausea or lightheadedness. Your body goes into panic mode, trying to cope with the lack of oxygen.