Why is smoking bad for your heart? And how does it cause clots?
People who smoke have an increased level of atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries.
This is a build-up of fatty material - called atheroma - which can cause the inside lining of the artery to rupture, leading to a clot.
If a clot forms in a narrowed coronary artery, the artery can suddenly get blocked.
This is a build-up of fatty material - called atheroma - which can cause the inside lining of the artery to rupture, leading to a clot.
If a clot forms in a narrowed coronary artery, the artery can suddenly get blocked.
Fatty build-up in artery wall
Small clot on atheroma
This means part of the heart muscle loses its supply of blood and oxygen, resulting in part of the heart muscle being damaged.
This is a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction - myocardium refers to the heart muscle and infarction refers to the death of a part of it.
A heart attack can cause severe chest pain, but other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, heaviness or tightness in the chest, stomach, arms, shoulder or jaw.
Some heart attacks only cause a small amount of damage to heart muscle. In these cases, people can recover quite quickly.
However, if a large part of the muscle gets damaged, it may limit the heart's pumping efficiency.
This is a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction - myocardium refers to the heart muscle and infarction refers to the death of a part of it.
A heart attack can cause severe chest pain, but other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, heaviness or tightness in the chest, stomach, arms, shoulder or jaw.
Some heart attacks only cause a small amount of damage to heart muscle. In these cases, people can recover quite quickly.
However, if a large part of the muscle gets damaged, it may limit the heart's pumping efficiency.
Large clot on ruptured fatty plaque
Clot on ruptured fatty plaque completely obscuring vessel
