Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of heart attack. With CAD, the coronary arteries get blocked due to plaque buildup. A less common cause of heart attack is an intense spasm or sudden contraction of a coronary artery, resulting in the stoppage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
Commonly seen causes of a heart attack include:
- Acute complete blockage of heart arteries
- Partial blockage of heart arteries
- Quick tightening of blood vessels
- Rare medical conditions
- Eating disorders
- Obstruction like a blood clot or air bubble in the coronary artery
The following are common risk factors that can increase your vulnerability to a heart attack:
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Unhealthy weight
- Family history of heart attacks
- Certain medical conditions, such as preeclampsia