A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common cause of a heart attack is a blood clot that forms in one of the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart.
Heart attacks are a leading cause of death in the United States. The good news is that there are many things you can do to prevent a heart attack. Some of the most important things you can do include: