1. Heart Attack & its Causes and What Harms Cardiac Muscles By Nick

2. What causes heart attacks? Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the build-up over time of a material called plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Eventually, a section of plaque can break open, causing a blood clot to form at the site. A heart attack occurs if the clot becomes large enough to cut off most or all of the blood flow through the artery.

3. What causes heart attacks?  The illustration shows a normal artery with normal blood flow (figure A) and an artery containing plaque build-up (figure B).  The blocked blood flow prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery. The lack of oxygen damages the heart muscle. If the blockage isn’t treated quickly, the damaged heart muscle begins to die.  Heart attack also can occur due to problems with the very small, microscopic blood vessels of the heart. This condition is called microvascular disease. It’s believed to be more common in women than in men.

4. What causes heart attacks?  Another less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery that cuts off blood flow through the artery. These spasms can occur in coronary arteries that don’t have CAD. It’s not always clear what causes a coronary artery spasm, but sometimes it can be related to: –Taking certain drugs, such as cocaine –Emotional stress or pain –Exposure to extreme cold –Cigarette smoking

5. What Harms Cardiac Muscles?  Anger can harm heart muscles. It has been established through medical examine that anger affects the heart muscle directly, and a person who is annoyed more often is further likely to face a puny heart muscle. This means that the capability of heart to pump blood would be condensed, causing cardiac trouble.  Anabolic steroid use and other drug use is now found to harm the heart muscle even more than previously known. Long term anabolic steroid use could even lead to heart failure according to new findings.  Eating Disorders (i.e. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia). Every single muscle in the body is very much affected by the action of starvation. The heart muscle can be severely affected and can decrease in size. Muscles in the body will begin to simply waste away.

6. WHAT HARMS CARDIAC MUSCLES?  Smoking - Cardiac muscles are controlled by the nervous system. When someone ingests chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and carbon monoxide, the nervous system and the muscles in the heart sometimes get confused about when to pump blood  Unhealthy diet eg. too many saturated fats, high cholesterol intake, high salt intake etc)  High Blood Pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and diabetes

7. Healthy Heart Guidelines for Children  Following a Healthy diet that consists of daily serves of: Grains (this includes bread, cereals, rice, pasta & noodles) Grains (this includes bread, cereals, rice, pasta & noodles) Vegetables Vegetables Fruit Fruit Dairy (this includes milk, cheese & yoghurt) Dairy (this includes milk, cheese & yoghurt) Protein (this includes lean meat, fish, chicken & eggs) Protein (this includes lean meat, fish, chicken & eggs)  Do not over indulged in high sugar & high salt foods, such as ChocolateBiscuits Snack Foods Soft Drinks  Be active and exercise 3-4 times per week SoccerSwimming Walking and Running