http://www.heartattacksite.com/ind.xml Heart Attack RSS Feed en-us http://www.heartattacksite.com The heart works 24 hours a day, pumping oxygen and nutrientrich blood to the body. Blood is supplied to the heart through its coronary arteries. In coronary heart disease (CHD), plaques or fatty substances build up inside the walls of the arteries. The plaques also attract blood components, which stick to the artery wall lining. Called atherosclerosis, the process develops gradually, over many years. It often begins early in life, even in childhood. The fatty buildup or plaque can break open and lead to the formation of a blood clot that seals the break. The clot reduces blood flow. The cycle of fatty buildup, plaque rupture, and blood clot formation causes the coronary arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow. When too little blood reaches the heart, the condition is called ischemia. Chest pain, or angina, may occur. The pain can vary in occurrence and be mild and intermittent, or more pronounced and steady. It can be severe enough to make normal everyday activities difficult. The same inadequate blood supply also may cause no symptoms, a condition called silent ischemia. If a blood clot suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to the heart, a heart attack results. Cells in the heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygencarrying blood begin to die. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart. http://www.heartattacksite.com Heart attacks strike both men and women. However, some persons are more likely than others to have a heart attack because of their "risk factors." Risk factors are behaviors or conditions that increase the chance of a disease. Some of the risk factors for heart attack are beyond your control, but most can be modified to help you lower your risk of having a firstor repeatheart attack. http://www.heartattacksite.com Preexisting coronary heart diseases, including a previous heart attack, a prior angioplasty or bypass surgery, or angina AgeIn men, the risk increases after age 45; in women, the risk increases after age 55. Family history of early heart diseasea father or brother diagnosed before age 55; or a mother or sister diagnosed before age 65. http://www.heartattacksite.com Smoking. High blood pressure. High blood cholesterol. Overweight and obesity. Physical inactivity. Diabetes. http://www.heartattacksite.com Treatments for a heart attack work to open the blocked artery to restore blood flow as fast as possible to prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle, and to lessen the chance of a repeat attack. The main treatments are thrombolytic ("clotbusting") therapy, other medications, and special procedures, such as angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery. To be most effective, these treatments must be given fastwithin 1 hour of the start of heart attack symptoms. Acting fast can save your life and limit damage to your heart.