What Causes a Heart Attack?

Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and understanding what causes them can be a life-saving knowledge. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of your heart is blocked, usually by a build-up of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries. When this happens, your heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and begins to die.

The exact cause of a heart attack varies from person to person, but there are some common risk factors that increase your chance for developing one. These include:

• High cholesterol levels: High cholesterol levels can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries, blocking blood flow and leading to a heart attack.
• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes increases your risk for developing a heart attack by up to four times.
• High blood pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries, increasing your risk for a heart attack.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes have an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease due to their higher levels of glucose in their bloodstream which can damage artery walls over time.
• Obesity: Being overweight or obese increases the amount of stress on your body’s organs including your heart which can lead to an increased risk for having a heart attack.
• Stress: Stress has been linked with an increased risk for having a heart attack due its effects on hormones such as adrenaline which can increase strain on the cardiovascular system if left unchecked for long periods of time.

In addition to these common risk factors, certain lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise or poor diet may also contribute towards increasing one’s chances for having a heart attack so it’s important that everyone take steps towards living healthier lifestyles in order reduce their risks as much as possible.

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Heart attack, death, causes, risk factors, high cholesterol levels, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stress, lifestyle choices,

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