When we picture a heart attack, our minds almost automatically conjure up a highly dramatic, cinematic scene. We imagine a person suddenly freezing, gripping their chest in agonizing pain, gasping for air, and collapsing to the ground.
When we discuss the risk factors for a heart attack, the conversation almost instantly centers on lifestyle choices. We talk about the foods we eat, how often we exercise, whether we smoke, and how we manage daily stress.
To the outside world, a heart attack—known clinically as a myocardial infarction—often appears as a sudden, unpredictable lightning bolt. A person is going about their day when, out of nowhere, they are gripped by a crushing chest pain.
