Myocardial infarction
Okay, so you know that our heart is like a big pump that helps blood flow through our body? It does this by contracting and relaxing. But sometimes, something called a myocardial infarction (mi-o-KAR-dee-ul in-fark-SHUN) can happen.
This is when there's a blockage in one of the blood vessels that carries blood to the heart. The blockage is usually a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other things that stick to the walls of the blood vessels over time. This makes it hard for blood to get through and reach the heart.
When the heart doesn't get enough blood, it can't pump properly. It's like when you're blowing up a balloon but someone is holding it closed - you can't blow it up all the way. This can cause something called a heart attack, which is when part of the heart muscle dies. It can be very serious.
People who have a myocardial infarction might feel pain or pressure in their chest, arm, or jaw. They might feel really tired, short of breath, or like they're going to throw up. If someone thinks they're having a heart attack, they should call for help right away. Doctors can give medicine or do surgery to try to open up the blocked blood vessel and restore blood flow to the heart.
This is when there's a blockage in one of the blood vessels that carries blood to the heart. The blockage is usually a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other things that stick to the walls of the blood vessels over time. This makes it hard for blood to get through and reach the heart.
When the heart doesn't get enough blood, it can't pump properly. It's like when you're blowing up a balloon but someone is holding it closed - you can't blow it up all the way. This can cause something called a heart attack, which is when part of the heart muscle dies. It can be very serious.
People who have a myocardial infarction might feel pain or pressure in their chest, arm, or jaw. They might feel really tired, short of breath, or like they're going to throw up. If someone thinks they're having a heart attack, they should call for help right away. Doctors can give medicine or do surgery to try to open up the blocked blood vessel and restore blood flow to the heart.