This Is What Happens During a Heart Attack

A heart attack is known among cardiologists as both myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It occurs when insufficient blood flow to a portion of the heart muscle leads to the death of the starved cells.

In many cases, heart attacks occur as a result of a blockage obstructing the coronary artery. This is a critically important blood vessel that is often times damaged by so-called plaques. The latter are formed from cholesterol and fatty acids, to which various components of blood adhere.

In time, the plaques grow large enough to obstruct blood flow through the coronary artery, starving regions of the heart muscle. Eventually, the oxygen shortage is so severe that the cells simply die, rendering the heart incapable of fulfilling its primary function.