A heart attack (medically known as myocardial infarction) occurs when the blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked. This blockage occurs due to the build-up of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries supplying blood to the heart and results in a poor oxygen supply to the heart muscle. If the blood flow is not restored promptly, the affected heart tissue dies.
Some patients experience chest pains when a heart attack occurs, but others have no symptoms at all. It is important to recognise the warning signs of a heart attack because it can be prevented. Heart attack is the second leading cause of death in Singapore after cancer and is the leading cause of death in some parts of the world.