Heart Attack

Heart attacks are caused by atherosclerosis, which occurs in arteries around the body and is called cardiovascular disease. In heart disease, is called coronary heart disease and is caused by the build-up of atheroma in the coronary arteries. This narrows the artery and causes a restricted blood flow. This process, known as atherosclerosis, can lead to angina and heart attacks

A heart attack (also known as myocardial infarction or MI) happens when the blood supply to your heart becomes completely blocked, either by the formation of a blood clot or by a loose piece of atheroma. This can result in damage to the part of your heart muscle, which that coronary artery was supplying.

Sometimes, when chest pain occurs suddenly, it is unclear if it is due to unstable angina or a heart attack. Until tests confirm the diagnosis, doctors sometimes call this Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).