WEBVTT 00:00:07.410 --> 00:00:12.980 Approximately 7 million people around the world die from heart attacks every year, 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:14.901 and cardiovascular disease, 00:00:14.901 --> 00:00:18.060 which causes heart attacks and other problems like strokes, 00:00:18.060 --> 00:00:20.500 is the world's leading killer. 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:22.650 So what causes a heart attack? 00:00:22.650 --> 00:00:25.140 Like all muscles, the heart needs oxygen, 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:28.550 and during a heart attack, it can't get enough. 00:00:28.550 --> 00:00:30.541 Fatty deposits, or plaques, 00:00:30.541 --> 00:00:33.241 develop on the walls of our coronary arteries. 00:00:33.241 --> 00:00:37.208 Those are the vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart. 00:00:37.208 --> 00:00:39.490 These plaques grow as we age, 00:00:39.490 --> 00:00:40.760 sometimes getting chunky, 00:00:40.760 --> 00:00:41.780 hardened, 00:00:41.780 --> 00:00:43.091 or enflamed. 00:00:43.091 --> 00:00:45.960 Eventually, the plaques can turn into blockages. 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:48.791 If one of the plaques ruptures or cracks, 00:00:48.791 --> 00:00:52.169 a blood clot will form around it in minutes, 00:00:52.169 --> 00:00:56.252 and a partially closed artery can become completely blocked. 00:00:56.252 --> 00:00:58.712 Blood flow is cut off to the cardiac muscle 00:00:58.712 --> 00:01:03.061 and the oxygen-starved cells start to die within several minutes. 00:01:03.061 --> 00:01:05.911 This is a myocardial infarction, 00:01:05.911 --> 00:01:07.311 or heart attack. 00:01:07.311 --> 00:01:11.302 Things can rapidly deteriorate in the absence of treatment. 00:01:11.302 --> 00:01:14.712 The injured muscle may not be able to pump blood as well, 00:01:14.712 --> 00:01:17.102 and its rhythm might be thrown off. 00:01:17.102 --> 00:01:21.472 In the worst case scenario, a heart attack can cause sudden death. 00:01:21.472 --> 00:01:24.441 And how do you know that someone is having a heart attack? 00:01:24.441 --> 00:01:26.723 The most common symptom is chest pain 00:01:26.723 --> 00:01:29.622 caused by the oxygen-deprived heart muscle. 00:01:29.622 --> 00:01:32.822 Patients describe it as crushing or vice-like. 00:01:32.822 --> 00:01:34.633 It can radiate to the left arm, 00:01:34.633 --> 00:01:35.472 jaw, 00:01:35.472 --> 00:01:36.241 back, 00:01:36.241 --> 00:01:37.473 or abdomen. 00:01:37.473 --> 00:01:41.622 But it's not always as sudden and dramatic as it is in the movies. 00:01:41.622 --> 00:01:43.513 Some people experience nausea 00:01:43.513 --> 00:01:44.932 or shortness of breath. 00:01:44.932 --> 00:01:48.283 Symptoms may be less prominent in women and the elderly. 00:01:48.283 --> 00:01:52.592 For them, weakness and tiredness may be the main signal. 00:01:52.592 --> 00:01:54.513 And surprisingly, in many people, 00:01:54.513 --> 00:01:58.642 especially those with diabetes, which affects the nerves that carry pain, 00:01:58.642 --> 00:02:01.192 a heart attack may be silent. 00:02:01.192 --> 00:02:03.993 If you think that someone might be having a heart attack, 00:02:03.993 --> 00:02:07.163 the most important thing is to respond quickly. 00:02:07.163 --> 00:02:11.032 If you have access to emergency medical services, call them. 00:02:11.032 --> 00:02:13.474 They're the fastest way to get to a hospital. 00:02:13.474 --> 00:02:15.825 Taking aspirin, which thins the blood, 00:02:15.825 --> 00:02:18.624 and nitroglycerin, which opens up the artery, 00:02:18.624 --> 00:02:21.594 can help keep the heart attack from getting worse. 00:02:21.594 --> 00:02:24.933 In the emergency room, doctors can diagnose a heart attack. 00:02:24.933 --> 00:02:27.524 They commonly use an electrocardiogram 00:02:27.524 --> 00:02:30.034 to measure the heart's electrical activity 00:02:30.034 --> 00:02:33.294 and a blood test to assess heart muscle damage. 00:02:33.294 --> 00:02:36.765 The patient is then taken to a high-tech cardiac suite 00:02:36.765 --> 00:02:40.105 where tests are done to locate the blockages. 00:02:40.105 --> 00:02:42.734 Cardiologists can reopen the blocked artery 00:02:42.734 --> 00:02:47.365 by inflating it with a balloon in a procedure called an angioplasty. 00:02:47.365 --> 00:02:50.794 Frequently, they also insert a metal or polymer stent 00:02:50.794 --> 00:02:53.148 that will hold the artery open. 00:02:53.148 --> 00:02:57.625 More extensive blockages might require coronary artery bypass surgery. 00:02:57.625 --> 00:03:01.730 Using a piece of vein or artery from another part of the body, 00:03:01.730 --> 00:03:05.866 heart surgeons can reroute blood flow around the blockage. 00:03:05.866 --> 00:03:09.389 These procedures reestablish circulation to the cardiac muscle, 00:03:09.389 --> 00:03:11.367 restoring heart function. 00:03:11.367 --> 00:03:13.111 Heart attack treatment is advancing, 00:03:13.111 --> 00:03:15.448 but prevention is vital. 00:03:15.448 --> 00:03:19.070 Genetics and lifestyle factors both affect your risk. 00:03:19.070 --> 00:03:22.174 And the good news is that you can change your lifestyle. 00:03:22.174 --> 00:03:24.566 Exercise, a healthy diet, and weight loss 00:03:24.566 --> 00:03:27.039 all lower the risk of heart attacks, 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.019 whether you've had one before or not. 00:03:29.019 --> 00:03:32.006 Doctors recommend exercising a few times a week, 00:03:32.006 --> 00:03:35.180 doing both aerobic activity and strength training. 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:38.826 A heart-healthy diet is low in sugar and saturated fats, 00:03:38.826 --> 00:03:41.096 which are both linked to heart disease. 00:03:41.096 --> 00:03:42.567 So what should you eat? 00:03:42.567 --> 00:03:44.237 Lots of fiber from vegetables, 00:03:44.237 --> 00:03:46.683 chicken and fish instead of red meat, 00:03:46.683 --> 00:03:49.946 whole grains and nuts like walnuts and almonds 00:03:49.946 --> 00:03:52.356 all seem to be beneficial. 00:03:52.356 --> 00:03:56.737 A good diet and exercise plan can also keep your weight in a healthy range, 00:03:56.737 --> 00:03:59.548 which will lower your heart attack risk as well. 00:03:59.548 --> 00:04:03.167 And of course, medications can also help prevent heart attacks. 00:04:03.167 --> 00:04:06.267 Doctors often prescribe low-dose aspirin, for example, 00:04:06.267 --> 00:04:09.976 particularly for patients who've already had a heart attack 00:04:09.976 --> 00:04:12.847 and for those known to be at high risk. 00:04:12.847 --> 00:04:14.956 And drugs that help manage risk factors, 00:04:14.956 --> 00:04:18.337 like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, 00:04:18.337 --> 00:04:21.038 will make heart attacks less likely, too. 00:04:21.038 --> 00:04:25.057 Heart attacks may be common, but they don't have to be inevitable. 00:04:25.057 --> 00:04:26.176 A healthy diet, 00:04:26.176 --> 00:04:27.599 avoiding tobacco use, 00:04:27.599 --> 00:04:28.728 staying fit, 00:04:28.728 --> 00:04:31.528 and enjoying plenty of sleep and lots of laughter 00:04:31.528 --> 00:04:35.769 all go a long way in making sure your body's most important muscle 00:04:35.769 --> 00:04:37.417 keeps on beating.