Heart Disease

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a heart attack. It occurs when there is a sudden, complete blockage of blood flow to a portion of heart muscle. Myocardial infarction is one of the most common diseases in the U.S. and causes a large number of deaths every year. Myocardial infarction may occur at any time and often occurs without warning. As we grow older, our coronary arteries may become narrowed by the buildup of cholesterol plaque. When the arteries narrow, less blood can go through them, and less oxygen gets to the heart muscle. The process of narrowing is called atherosclerosis. The narrower the artery becomes, the more likely it is that a blood clot may form and block the artery completely, causing a heart attack. Sometimes sudden blockages can occur even in places where the artery was not narrow before.