About heart attacks
Why have I had a heart attack?
Why did it happen to me?
A heart attack can happen to anyone, but your chance of suffering a heart attack is increased if you have any of the following risk factors:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure (also known as hypertension)
- High cholesterol
- Lack of exercise
- A stressful job or lifestyle
- A bad diet, high in saturated fats
- Overweight or obesity
- Drinking too much alcohol
Diabetes is also a major risk factor, caused by too much sugar in the blood. People with diabetes can lower their risk of a heart attack by controlling their blood sugar, lipids (e.g. cholesterol) and blood pressure.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs when the blood vessels become narrower due to a build-up of fatty deposits (known as atheroma). This restricts the flow of blood to the coronary arteries, and when the heart has to work harder during exercise or stress, not enough blood gets through to supply the heart muscle. This causes a pain in the chest known as angina.
Angina usually subsides if you rest or take medication, but it can be the warning sign of an oncoming heart attack. Other names for CHD include ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and coronary artery disease (CAD).
For more information, see the Abbott patient booklet on Living with Coronary Heart Disease.
All of these risk factors can be changed by treatment or by modifying your behaviour.
You are also at higher risk if you have a family history of heart disease, if you are a man, or if you belong to certain ethnic groups (such as south Asian) – but these are not factors you can modify.
The message is simple: to prolong your life, change your lifestyle.
If you would like further information please visit the heart attack treatment website.