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While predicting a heart attack with absolute certainty may still be beyond our reach, the ability to identify patients at high risk is a significant step forward. The latest techniques used to find people at risk are summarised in a […]
The idea of predicting a heart attack may have once seemed like science fiction, but it is rapidly becoming a reality. With the advent of advanced imaging techniques and artificial intelligence, we are now able to detect the early signs of coronary heart disease and intervene before a heart attack occurs. This represents a major shift in the way we approach cardiovascular care, moving from a reactive model to a proactive one.
The medical understanding of a "heart attack" can sometimes diverge from the layperson's perception. Many people interpret a heart attack as any acute, potentially fatal cardiac event, regardless of its cause. This discrepancy necessitates a deeper exploration of heart attack causes unrelated to coronary artery disease, particularly for understanding familial risks and discussing preventative measures like statins.
When clots from the left atrial appendage dislodge, they can travel to various parts of the body, including the coronary artery, which receives about 5% of the blood from each heartbeat, or the cerebral arteries, accounting for approximately 20% of each cardiac cycle's output