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 present no symptoms at all. It is crucial to recognise the warning signs of a Heart Attack because it can largely be prevented. Heart Attack is the number 2 leading cause of death in Singapore after cancer and is the leading cause of death in some parts of the world.