Understanding the Causes of Heart Attacks: Insights From the Best Cardiologists in India

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is limited. This may happen when the blood supply is compromised or obstructed. It is usually due to cholesterol or excessive fat deposition in the arteries. Cholesterol-rich greasy substances are called plaques, and the process of accumulating those substances is called atherosclerosis. There are times when this plaque becomes dislodged, leading to the formation of a clot that restricts blood from moving. This causes injury to or even death of the cardiac muscle tissues. Heart attacks are complex. So, let us understand the causes of the heart attack from some of the best cardiologists in India.

Causes of Heart Attacks

As per the heart specialists in Hyderabad, the most common reason for a heart attack is an obstruction in the blood vessel systems to which your heart pumps blood. Typically, a plaque or sticky substance build-up in the insides of arteries is what causes this blockage. Such a condition is called atherosclerosis. The excessive plaque ossification in the arteries supplying blood to the heart is called coronary artery disease.

The coronary blood vessels contain plaque. It also gets deposited in these arteries. This solid deposit within the arteries can become unstable and burst. Therefore, a thrombosis may localise at the site of this burst. Blood clots can cause blockages in the arteries, and thus, blood flow to the heart will not occur. It may ultimately lead to an emergency like a heart attack.

It should also be considered that attacks may occur without ruptured plaque, but there are few cases. According to the best cardiologists in India, such instances occur in only 5-10 per cent of all heart attacks. Such attacks may occur because of:

1. Eating Disorders : These damage your heart over time, and trigger a heart attack.
2. Coronary Artery Spasm
3. Trauma that induces ruptures or tears in the coronary arteries
4. Any disease that causes unusual narrowing of the blood vessels
5. Anomalous coronary arteries: A heart issue a person is born with wherein the coronary arteries are abnormal. Compression of these arteries triggers a heart attack.
6. An obstruction from elsewhere in the body, such as an air bubble or blood clots, enters the coronary artery.
7. Any other condition that does not allow your heart to receive as much blood as it must for a prolonged duration.

Some of these conditions include

• Low oxygen levels
• Low blood pressure
• A rapid heart rate

Risk Factors of a Heart Attack

Heart specialists in Hyderabad hold multiple factors responsible for a heart attack. Many such factors are not controllable.

Some prevalent risk factors are

1. Age: The risk of heart attack increases with age.
2. Sex: Your sex also has an impact on your probability of getting a heart attack. The risk for heart attack increases for people
   assigned male at birth when they are 45 or older. On the contrary, for those assigned females at birth, the heart attack risk increases after menopause or when they turn 50.
3. Familial Link: People who have a sibling or a parent with a history of heart attack or heart disease, especially at a younger age, are at a greater risk. It happens because their genetics are similar to their first relatives. The risk spikes if the biological sibling or parent endured a heart attack or a heart disease diagnosis at the age of 55 or younger for males and 65 or younger for females.
4. Lifestyle Factors: Your heart health is also greatly dependent on you and your way of life. Fortunately, this is one problem that can be resolved more favourably. Some recommendations that can encourage heart health include:

• Low or no physical activity
• Drinking too much
• Smoking
• Eating high-fat foods
• Drug abuse

5. Health conditions: A few health conditions can strain the heart and amplify the risk of heart attack.

These include

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Eating disorders
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• History of preeclampsia

Bottom Line

These are some possible reasons and risk factors regarding coronary heart attack. So, should you have gone through the heart attack diagnosis, or are in the risk range, it is recommended that you see the top cardiologist in India. A cardiologist specialises in evaluating and treating heart attack patients. They can determine your current status with available aids and recommend the best management.

In case of the requirement of the same in Hyderabad, please reach out to Dr. Raghu. He is an experienced and successful cardiologist who has been in practice for many years. He will explain the reasons for the disease and analyse the problem to formulate an adequate course of treatment.