What is a Heart Attack? (Animation)

The heart is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body, providing the energy that the body needs to function. The muscles of the heart itself also need a supply of blood. The coronary arteries (one of which we see in the video) fulfil that need. Sometimes a cholesterol plaque forms on the side of the artery reducing blood flow. If part of that plaque breaks through into the artery platelets tend to attach to it creating a blood clot further reducing or blocking blood flow. The blockage in the artery prevents blood from reaching part of the heart muscle. Without blood the muscle is starved for oxygen, causing damage to the heart muscle. The heart attack occurs because the damaged heart can no longer pump properly.

According to figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 60 percent of the world’s cardio-vascular patients are expected to be in India by 2016. The country already has more than 100 million heart patients.

Video published with permission from BioDigital Systems.