Final answer:
A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when there is a blockage in a coronary artery, resulting in the death of cardiac muscle cells. Risk factors for MI include cardiovascular disease, smoking, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and more. Excessive exercise or severe stress can trigger a heart attack.
Step-by-step explanation:
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly referred to as a heart attack, occurs when there is a lack of blood flow and oxygen to a region of the heart, resulting in death of the cardiac muscle cells. It is often caused by a blockage in a coronary artery due to the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. Excessive exercise or severe stress can trigger an MI.
Important risk factors for MI include cardiovascular disease, age, smoking, high levels of LDL cholesterol, low levels of HDL cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, lack of physical exercise, chronic kidney disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and use of illegal drugs.