• Question: what causes heart attacks and is there any way to prevent them

    Asked by annelouise372 to Amy, Drew, Julia, Kimberley, Sara on 20 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Amy MacQueen

      Amy MacQueen answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hi annelouise!

      Heart attacks are caused by a loss of blood supply to the heart. This is often caused by a blood clot and results in the death of some of the heart muscle cells. It often occurs in people who have coronary heart disease – their arteries are narrowed b y fatty cholesterol plaques making blockages more likely.

      You can’t necessarily prevent a heart attack but smoking, getting insufficient exercise, having high blood pressure or cholesterol and being overweight all increase the chances of a heart attack – so if you do the opposite of these things its less likely.

      My Dad actually had a heart attack a few months ago – but it was trauma induced rather than because of heart disease. When the heart is put under a lot of stress – because the body has been severely injured or shocked – a heart attack can result.

      Hope this answers your question!! 🙂

Comments