Can i cause a heart attack

Coronary heart disease Coronary heart disease CHD is the leading cause of heart attacks. Your risk of developing CHD is increased by: smoking a high-fat diet diabetes high cholesterol high blood pressure hypertension being overweight or obese Find out more about the causes of CHD. Less common causes Some less common causes are described here. Drug misuse Using stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines speed and methamphetamines crystal meth can cause coronary arteries to narrow, restricting blood supply and triggering a heart attack.

Lack of oxygen in the blood hypoxia If levels of oxygen in the blood decrease due to carbon monoxide poisoning or a loss of normal lung function, the heart will receive un-oxygenated blood. This will result in the heart muscles being damaged, triggering a heart attack. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat. Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders. Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort, but shortness of breath also can happen before chest discomfort. What are the risk factors for heart attack?

What can I do to recover after a heart attack? Heart disease and stroke statistics— update: a report from the American Heart Association. NCHS data brief, no. Accessed May 9, Get Email Updates. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Learn more about coronary artery disease causes, symptoms, risk factors, and more.

Some heart attacks are more severe than others. In this article, learn about the signs and symptoms of each type. We also explore their causes and who…. There are many ways to improve cardiac health, and watching what we eat is one of the most important.

Here, we provide details of 16 heart-healthy…. Warning signs Treatment Complications Prevention Diagnosis Recovery Causes Risk factors Outlook A heart attack happens when there is a loss of blood supply to part of the heart muscle.

Symptoms of a heart attack. Share on Pinterest. Risk factors. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What are the signs of heart attack in a woman?

Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, RN. Everything you need to know about heart disease. Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. What to know about coronary artery disease.

Types of heart attack: What you need to know.