Index IntroductionRisk FactorsSigns of a Heart AttackTreatment for Heart AttackConclusionIntroductionA heart attack is a very serious, life-threatening problem. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow of oxygen to the heart muscle is greatly reduced or completely stopped. This happens when the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, become very narrow due to the buildup of fat and other plaque. This process is called atherosclerosis: when the plaque breaks down, it forms a blood clot that can block blood flow to the heart muscle. Then your heart doesn't get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, known as ischemia. When there is damage to the heart muscle caused by ischemia, it is called a heart attack. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay A heart attack is also called myocardial infarction or MI. When you have a complete blockage of your coronary artery, it means you've had a STEMI heart attack, which stands for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. When you have a partial blockage of the coronary artery, it means you have had an NSTEMI, which stands for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Risk Factors A heart attack can happen out of nowhere, and you may never have known you had a chance of having one. There are many things that contribute to the risk of having a heart attack, but there are also ways to reduce the risk. It is never too late to start changing your lifestyle to prevent the risk of having a heart attack in the future. Your lifestyle is one of the most important factors that contribute to the cause of a heart attack. Following a good diet is the first step, you need to get all the nutrients to be healthy and have a healthy heart. Another step is to have a controlled weight, if you are overweight your heart has to work even harder, it is more tired. Keeping your blood pressure under control can also help, as having high blood pressure affects how well your heart works. If you have diabetes you are at huge risk of having a heart attack. If glucose levels are not controlled, the risk is even higher. You need to make healthy decisions and have a healthy lifestyle to reduce your chances of having a heart attack. You need to exercise regularly, eat healthily, and keep your weight and blood pressure under control. You should always know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, so you can tell whether you or someone else is suffering from it. Signs of a heart attackThere are many signs of a heart attack, one of them is chest discomfort. Chest discomfort is one of the most common symptoms/signs of a heart attack and occurs in both men and women. Discomfort is also felt in other areas of the upper body, such as the arms, neck, jaw and back. Another common symptom is shortness of breath, the heart rate increases and along with chest pain tends to cause shortness of breath. One of the most common signs of a heart attack is sweating, caused by the huge influx of catecholamines. Catecholamines are natural amines that function as hormones in the body. Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting are some other symptoms you can have from a heart attack, which result from the elevated heart rate. You may also become very tired as a symptom of a heart attack, and you tend to think that rest is the only way to get over it. Similar to fatigue, you may suffer from depression, which in itself is not a sign of a heart attack. There is also the symptom of anxiety, which is caused by hormonal changes triggered by an increased heart rate...