What is a heart attack?

A heart attack is what happens when something blocks blood from flowing to the muscles in your heart. If they don’t get the blood they need to be healthy, the heart muscles can get hurt or completely destroyed. 

If the heart muscles are badly damaged, the heart can’t do its job of pumping blood through the body, and other cells may not get the oxygen they need. Many people survive heart attacks, but sometimes a person can die from this condition.

Fortunately, there’s a lot a person can do to lower their chances of having a heart attack. You see, most heart attacks are caused by something called “plaque” that builds up in the arteries. A little plaque is normal, but smoking and eating lots of fatty foods can make plaque much, much worse. If a piece of plaque in the heart breaks, a blood clot can form around it and block blood flow through the arteries. It’s like a car wreck blocking traffic on the highway.

That’s one reason why it’s important to eat your fruits and veggies and to not smoke. Also, exercising can help keep your heart healthy and free of plaque. It’s very, very rare for a kid to have a heart attack, but keeping your body healthy now will help it stay healthy later.