Final answer:
An MI, or heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is completely blocked, resulting in damage to the heart muscle and death of myocardial cells. The most common cause is the blockage of a coronary artery due to a blood clot or plaque rupture. Risk factors for an MI include cardiovascular disease, smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, chronic kidney disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and illegal drug use.
Step-by-step explanation:
An MI, or myocardial infarction, is commonly known as a heart attack. It occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is completely blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle and death of myocardial cells. The most common cause of an MI is the complete blockage of a coronary artery, usually due to a blood clot or the rupture of a plaque. Risk factors for an MI include cardiovascular disease, smoking, high levels of LDL cholesterol, low levels of HDL cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lack of physical exercise, chronic kidney disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and use of illegal drugs.