Should You Give Your Car Away?

You can give your car to charity and deduct the gross proceeds from the sale if the proceeds are for more than $500.

If the claimed value of the donated motor vehicle, boat or plane exceeds $500 and the item is sold by the charitable organization, the taxpayer's claimed value is limited to the gross proceeds from the sale.

The charitable organization must notify the donor within 30 days of the sale of the amount of the gross proceeds. However, if the charity adds improvements to the vehicle, the charity must notify the donor within 30 days of the contribution. If the charity betters the vehicle then the donor may deduct the vehicle?s market value.

Actually, it is much better if the Taxpayer can deduct the vehicle's market value, because there normally is quite a gap between perceived market value and actual proceeds, and this difference can literally be thousands of dollars.

One car donation center states that it has processed over 500,000 car donations since 1992, which adds up to about 30,000 cars a year.

Did you know that you can also donate boats and RV's?
So if aunt Dora dies, and leaves her jalopy in the driveway then maybe this is an attractive way to get rid of the car especially since it does not start anyway.

But wait! It is not that easy.
Where is the Title to the car? Not in the glove compartment? You may have a problem.
You may also have a problem if the title is joint, say Aunt Dora and Uncle Nick.
If Aunt Dora died and UncleNick is still alive there will be all kinds of problems.

How about vehicle emission controls, was the car equipped with them, were they disabled?

When you make a charity car donation:
You get free vehicle pick-up whether your car to donate is running or not. In some cases the company will actually put a new battery in the car to get it running again.
You avoid confusing Department of Motor Vehicles paperwork or Smog hassles.

How it works:
Call a reliable Vehicle Donation company.
They'll take your information over the telephone, they'll handle all the DMV documents, they'll pick up your vehicle , arrange an auction sale and distribute the proceeds to the charity.

If your donated vehicle/vessel sells for under $500 the receipt you receive at the time the vehicle is picked up is all you need for filing your taxes.

The actual net proceeds of a donated car seem to range around the $400 figure
In all cases, a charity car donation is sold to the highest bidder by a well-established charity vehicle auction.

You must have a certificate of title.

Some companies will also guarantee that if your donated car gets a ticket after your donation date, they'll take care of the ticket for you and they zealously will fight it so you don't have to worry about it.

The reason cars are sold by public auction is that people simply will pay more at an auction for your car than they will pay at a dealer.

Also, if the car is running at the time of the auction people will pay more so it is advisable to get it to running condition when reselling it.

Read More

Get Cash When Donating your Car?

If you’re looking to donate to charity, look no further than doing so by donating your old car. We all know that secretly, looking for a little compensation would be a fair trade for the sentimental value the things being given away has earned. For this reason, many people are looking for car donation programs where a cash equivalent is given back to them.

Car donations are the way many people choose to recycle their older model cars without having the headache of repairing, advertising, showing, and hopefully then selling them. Your donated car will not only get that old car off your driveway, or out of your garage. There are easy-to-use car donation websites where you can research hundreds of respected organizations, find answers to FAQs and complete simple online charity car donation forms. But turning cash by donating your car? Read on.

You might wonder – the terms "donation" and "cash" do not really match. One is an act done gratuitously. The latter is for barter.

The closest thing to a car donation with cash equivalent that we could get is the tax deduction that the IRS would give us in exchange for donating our cars. A generous compensation package is given to the right donors in the form of a tax write off, an amount depending on how the charity uses the car. If the charity decides to keep the car, you receive an amount equal to its fair market value. If they sell the car, you receive a tax deduction equal to the price it was sold for.

These compensation options are just as good as cash, and this is the closest thing to compensation as you can get. Remember, the tax deduction is a bonus and the real reason for donating should be to give from the kindness of your heart.

Whether the cash you get from in the "car donation with cash back" equation does not mean that you will somehow walk away from you donation with a fistful of dollars. If the charity to which you donate you car chooses to put it to work in the service of their efforts, you will be allowed to deduct its fair market value, as determined by Kelly's Blue Book. If the car you donate is sold to raise money for the charity, you will be allowed to deduct the amount for which it was sold, unless that amount is less than Blue Book value. And, with the tax deduction you'll receive in return, you'll actually be performing a car donation with cash back.

Though seeking a program that offers a car donation with cash equivalent would be a trademark of human nature, it is responding to the plight of others that should be our calling in life. Just visit our website for more information on Car Donation For Cash and related information.

Read More

Are You the Type of Person Who Will Donate a Car to Charity?

Though the average person who was liable to donate a car to charitable organizations once included just about everyone in the late 1990s and early 'aughts, changes in IRS regulations and rules governing deductibles since 2005 has made for a subtle demographic shift towards the upper-middle class with regards to just who will donate a car to a charitable or non-profit organization (NPO).

This is true for several different reasons. For starters, those who are self-employed are far more likely to take itemized deductions since such workers have far more upward mobility than a given employee. They also tend to make a lot more from such ventures. Self employment also means that you pay your own contributions as well as those normally picked up by an employer. This double taxation leaves many of the self-employed on a constant lookout for deduction possibilities. When you donate a car to charity you can make up several thousand dollars at a time in deductions - sometimes enough to bump you into a lower bracket.

Of course, not everyone who wants to donate a car is interested in the deduction. There will always be people who just want their old junker cars to go away and many of the ads imploring you to donate a car rely upon the offer of free towing (and sometimes a hotel or cruise voucher) to help get low-value cars from far less off individuals than the PhDs who are donating perfectly good cars.

However, in yet another installment of how it pays to have a few extra coins to rub together, those who are able to afford to give a working car find that it is likely to be used for transport rather than sold at wholesale auction. This other type of use occurs when you carefully choose a charity you trust, donate a car to it and find out 3 years later that it's been used for various official functions and as transport for in-house needs that furthers the mission of the charity.

As such, those who already have some extra money to throw around are more likely to get the higher deductible that they're more likely to be able to capitalize upon in the first place. That means the demographics of someone looking to donate a car have somewhat suddenly moved back to where they were before the advertising push of the 1990s. Though many middle class people might donate a car that doesn't run very well, they won't enjoy the higher level of benefits that a better quality donation typically garners.

But other than wealth, the other demographics of those who participate in charitable organizations when they donate a car include many of those who grew up using, or recently used, the services of such an organization. This gives one a good idea as to how non-monetary benefits work in the real world. The chance to give back to an organization that has helped one get back on their own two feet is an invaluable feeling of pride and accomplishment that the IRS cannot put a value upon.

So, despite recent setbacks in deduction amount for the typical donation from a mid-level income individual or family, this hasn't stopped a segment of the population from donating scrap cars that they simply want hauled away as junk. This is especially true in the case of vehicles that have no chance to have a useful resale value whether conducting the transaction yourself or letting a car donation service take care of it.

The main difference between the classes of donation that have sprung up since the 2005 ruling means that if you choose to donate a car, it may not be very lucrative for the charity in question unless it's running well and worth their while to fix up for use (rather than selling on the wholesale market), even if they don't use a third-party donation agent.

Read More

Car Donations Make You Money

Have you ever wondered who you might be helping if you chose to donate a car to charity? The possibilities are almost endless and the gift of a car is an incredible one for helping give people a hand up instead of a hand out.

When you think about it, in most major areas a car is vital for everything. People without decent cars cannot get to work, the grocery store, school, doctors' appointments and so on. Considering this, it's vital for just about everyone to have a vehicle to ensure their lives.

So, who could you be helping if you choose to help by donating cars to charity?

* A homeless person. It's possible that if you choose to help others by donating a car to charity that your donation would go to help a homeless person rebuild their life. Since transportation is often one of the most vital and expensive links involved in independence, the gift could go a long way in helping.

* A single mother. When it comes to buying a new car, few single mothers can afford one. Since everything that involves the children and caring for them will require transportation, a gift to charity could really help here. Donating a car to charity organizations that assist single parent families can result in a mom making sure there's food on the table and she can be available to pick up kids after school. It could mean that mother can get a job. Or, it could mean she has the freedom to go to the store or take the kids to the doctors.

* A struggling family. Donating cars to charity can even result in helping working families make ends meet. In a society that often requires two incomes to survive, two cars are almost a necessity. But, even those two are needed, it can be very hard for a family to buy and maintain two cars. When you donate a car to charity, you could really help make a difference for a family that wants to remain independent.

When you make the decision to donate a car to charity you never can tell who or how many people your gift could really help. A car is such a vital link for independence and survival in today's society, that a donation of a car to charity would mean the difference between getting by or getting ahead.

The best things about donating a car to charity are:

* It's a real hand up instead of a handout. Donating a car to charity gives someone a means to an end, but it's not the end itself.

* A sense of truly helping. Donating a car to charity is much more than just writing a check. A car is a tool a person can use to ensure a better life.

* Tax deductible. When you choose to donate a car to charity, you can see a real benefit on your taxes.

Choosing to donate a car to charity can open doors for a whole host of people. Helping a person help themselves, this kind of donation is unlike any other.

Read More

Florida Car Donation Process

Need to get rid of that old Honda Civic? If so, you can give it to charity and become eligible for some tax benefits that could save plenty of cash. If you’re a Florida resident, there are tons of charities that are willing to accept that brand new Mercedes or decade-old sudan. These charities are fully licensed and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, which means tax deductions could be safely gotten by donating.

One Florida charity where car donations are made possible if the Florida Council for the Blind – one of the most popular charities in the region, being the oldest and most recognized. This organization helps blind people find work opportunities so that they may find their own niche in a rather hard world. Your donated car may be used to shuttle members from one place to the other. Another Florida charity worth considering is the Florida Gulf Coast Paralyzed Veterans of American organization. It provides a number of services to war veterans who have lost their mobility.

A third Florida charity to considering donating your car to is the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. It is a serious disease that causes the body’s cells to get harder, which results in a lack of mobility and other movement maladies. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is always leading the pack when it comes to research and funding of many projects that strive to improve the lives for these patients in the state of Florida.

These are just some of the charities your car can go towards. Remember, you could enjoy tax benefits if you offer your old car to these places. The fair market value of your car is equivalent to your tax deduction if the organization uses it for charity purposes. If the charity decides to sell it, the selling price becomes the amount of your tax deduction.

Read More

Car Donation Centers Available in San Francisco

Instead of going through the hassles of selling your car yourself you could donate it to a car donation center. These centers are either charities or work together with charities. If the center is an approved one, you will be able to deduct a certain amount of money from your tax return� Let us examine some of the car donation centers in San Francisco�

Habitat for Humanity in one association which builds homes thought community engagement in partnership with working families. In fact the average price of a home in San Francisco is about $746,000? In choosing this center, you are allowing the homeless to have a roof over their heads.

Car Donation Services or CDS is another association you might one to consider. This car donation center claims that they are able to obtain higher prices from the sale of a vehicle. This in turn would imply that the charity benefits much more from the sale and that you get a greater tax write-off.

San Francisco city chorus is one more car donation center. As implied by its name, this association is concerned with choral classics as well as traditional and folk music. You might want to help them.

The San Francisco SPCA is one car donation center you would like to have recourse to if you love animals. This association is devoted to saving cats and dogs which live in the streets. It also sensitizes people about awareness of the needs and requirements of animals as well as the necessity of having a human-animal bond.

If you choose to donate via Kars4Kids, you might even receive a free vacation voucher for a 2 night 3 day hotel stay. This does in no case impact on the tax deductions or the care given to children. You can thus be rewarded for your donation.

Car4causes in another car donation service that claims that if you deal with them you will be getting higher tax deduction and the charity obtaining more money. According to them, they achieve these results by selling the car through their retail locations rather than through auctions.

Well, you now have a broader idea of the services you might have recourse to. I really hope that you do choose a car donation center instead of selling your car.

Read More

Car Donation Centers in California

Cars are very in demand to many car enthusiasts, they are increasing in number for the last several years, and this is taking financial costs to many American�s. This situation is very tough and a problem to the poor families in the US.

There are 20 percent ratios of American families who are considered poor- they cannot buy a car- expenses is 40.2 percent for their transportation fee as reported by Surface Transportation Policy Project, this is a non-profit organization who studied transportation alternative choices.

In the latest update, increase in gas pricing up to $ 3 plus, the expenses in transport is targeting commuters, this affect to the drivers. Costs that is easy for the pocket is a big problem that until now has no solution. Meanwhile there is a group who come up with an idea to reprocess, repack and drive again techniques so that the transportation expenses will be lessened. The idea here states that �To make use of cars that people doesn�t use or seems to dislike them, and to let others use it�.

The thinking of this type, of donating cars, goes up to a figure of six to seven thousand people who donate cars every year. This thinking in demand to people in US was able to help lots of families; some had been purchase and others to specific charities.

The scheme of reasonable costs in transportation will never be a luxury as told by STPP. This will simply imply the difference in working in a day to day basis and getting their infrequently. This is a circumstance that is very true to all US residents who work in school as medical personnel this is very impractical if you have no car.

Those families whose revenue is low is suffering like those of the other countries world wide for the past several years, several organization is planning for a car, who will have natures, best style for pollution free earth.

The sprawl in the provinces targeting the low generating family will be very difficult for them if they have no car. The STPP we will not be able to fix everything, but we can provide affordable transport in the initial costing of car

Read More

How to Make a Car Donation, Massachusetts

If you live in the state of Massachusetts and are looking to get rid of an unwanted car or vehicle, there are lots of places you can make a car donation Massachusetts. All you have to do is do a little bit of research and you will find a wide variety of charities that will be happy to take your car and send it to auction to help their cause.

When you want to make a car donation Massachusetts, finding the right charity can take some time. There are so many charities that could use a car donation Massachusetts and choosing the one you feel will do the most good can be difficult. You can make your car donation Massachusetts based on your own personal feelings or simply choose a charity that is well known to you.

If you are ready to make a car donation Massachusetts, you will only have to make a phone call and fill out some simple forms. The charity of your choice will do the rest. From hiring the towing company to pick up your car often right at your residence, to sending the car to auction and providing you with the proper paperwork for your taxes, they will take care of all the details.

This can be good news for many who have struggled with other ways to rid themselves of an old, unwanted car. Selling it to someone else often seems like a good idea, but once you get into all the details, it becomes almost like a job. To sell your car you have to place an ad and take all the phone calls that will come in regarding your car. Many times you will have to deal with some strange people. All this can be avoided by making a car donation Massachusetts.

You can feel good about helping your fellow man to better his life. You can choose a car donation Massachusetts charity that targets youth, disease, hunger, homelessness as well as a host of other worthy causes. Deciding to give your car donation Massachusetts is a great way to give back the blessings you have in your life.

Read More

Amnesia

What is Amnesia ?
Amnesia is a state of mind in which the person tends to suffer from partial or complete memory loss. There are varying types and degrees of amnesia that take place during old age. Talking about the amnesia symptoms, the persons suffering from this mental disorder forget words and names.
There is a distinctive uncommon form of amnesia in which the memory loss occurs to such an extent that the patient even forgets his own identity, as in his name, age, and family background. It is a stage in which the person fails to recollect anything of the past.

Symptoms of Amnesia
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Amnesia includes the 5 symptoms listed below:
Memory loss
Partial memory loss
Total memory loss
Temporary memory loss
Permanent memory loss
Diagnosis of Amnesia
There are no laboratory tests that are necessary to confirm amnesia nor are there any physical conditions that must be met. However, it is very important not to overlook a physical illness that might mimic or contribute to amnesia. If there is any doubt about a medical problem, the mental health professional should refer to a physician, who will perform a complete physical examination and request any necessary laboratory tests.
Very sophisticated psychological testing, called neuropsychological testing, can be very helpful in determining the presence of amnesia. Sometimes the diagnosis of amnesia can be aided by the use of brain scans such as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Read More

Amnesia

What is Amnesia ?
Amnesia is a state of mind in which the person tends to suffer from partial or complete memory loss. There are varying types and degrees of amnesia that take place during old age. Talking about the amnesia symptoms, the persons suffering from this mental disorder forget words and names.
There is a distinctive uncommon form of amnesia in which the memory loss occurs to such an extent that the patient even forgets his own identity, as in his name, age, and family background. It is a stage in which the person fails to recollect anything of the past.

Symptoms of Amnesia
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Amnesia includes the 5 symptoms listed below:
Memory loss
Partial memory loss
Total memory loss
Temporary memory loss
Permanent memory loss
Diagnosis of Amnesia
There are no laboratory tests that are necessary to confirm amnesia nor are there any physical conditions that must be met. However, it is very important not to overlook a physical illness that might mimic or contribute to amnesia. If there is any doubt about a medical problem, the mental health professional should refer to a physician, who will perform a complete physical examination and request any necessary laboratory tests.
Very sophisticated psychological testing, called neuropsychological testing, can be very helpful in determining the presence of amnesia. Sometimes the diagnosis of amnesia can be aided by the use of brain scans such as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Read More

Mesothelioma

What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, an extremely rare form of cancer, derives its name from mesothelium, which is the tissue infected by this cancer. Mesothelium is a membrane covering most of the body viscera. Factually speaking, mesothelium consists of two layers: one of the two forms an immediate cover of the organ; the other one leaves a space around the first layer and then forms a covering. A fluid released by mesothelium fills this sac-like space. Function of this fluid is lubrication, in other words, it allows convenient and frictionless motion of the internal body organs.Mesothelial tissue, if surrounds the lungs and chest cavity, is called pleura, it is called peritoneum if it surrounds the abdominal organs and pericardium if it surrounds heart. Mesothelial lining surrounding the male reproductive system is called tunica vaginalis testis, and the one surrounding internal female reproductive organs is called tunica serosa uteri.Mesothelioma is a disorder, in which uncontrollable division of cells of mesothelium leads to formation of a tumor in this tissue, which, in most of the cases is malignant. That is why, mesothelioma is also known as cancer of mesothelium. The cancerous cells of mesothelioma can metastasize to other body parts and can also damage nearby tissues. Most of the cases of mesothelioma begin in pleural cavity. Peritoneal and pericardial origin is less common. Rarely, mesothelioma may originate in groin and give a hernia-like appearance.
Types of Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma
A cancerous form of tumour, which is virtually always caused by sustained exposure to asbestos. The time period between first exposure to asbestos and appearance of first symptoms can be anywhere between 20-50 years. In some cases, it may stretch even beyond that. Besides the treatment methods mentioned forth, supportive treatment such as pain-relief and oxygen may also help in relieving the symptoms a bit. Even though. Prognosis depends upon the stage of cancer, and availability of effective treatment options, different studies indicate median period to be between 4 and 18 months.
Benign-fibrous Mesothelioma
A non-cancerous tumour of the pleura. This is a localized type of tumour, which, as studies suggest, affects men more frequently then women. The usual symptoms to appear are chronic cough and shortness of breath. The reason for appearance of these symptoms is, the tumour grows to a large size at times and compresses the lung, causing shortness of breath. During physical examination, the health care professional may observe a clubbed appearance of fingers. Pleural effusion is a complication of this disorder

Read More

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

Chest pain or pressure is a common symptom of heart attack. Cardiac chest pain is often vague, or dull, and may be described as a pressure or band-like sensation, squeezing, heaviness, or other discomfort. Heart attacks frequently occur from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.due to higher adrenaline (a hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight) levels released by the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Interestingly, heart attacks do not usually happen during exercise, although exercise is commonly associated with angina (heart pain). Approximately 1/4th of all heart attacks are silent i.e. without associated chest pain. In diabetics, the incidence of “silent” heart attacks may be much higher.

>chest pressure,
>sweating,
>jaw pain,
>heartburn and/or indigestion,
>arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either),
>upper back pain,
>general malaise (vague feeling of illness),
>nausea,
>shortness of breath

Read More

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

Chest pain or pressure is a common symptom of heart attack. Cardiac chest pain is often vague, or dull, and may be described as a pressure or band-like sensation, squeezing, heaviness, or other discomfort. Heart attacks frequently occur from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.due to higher adrenaline (a hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight) levels released by the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Interestingly, heart attacks do not usually happen during exercise, although exercise is commonly associated with angina (heart pain). Approximately 1/4th of all heart attacks are silent i.e. without associated chest pain. In diabetics, the incidence of “silent” heart attacks may be much higher.

>chest pressure,
>sweating,
>jaw pain,
>heartburn and/or indigestion,
>arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either),
>upper back pain,
>general malaise (vague feeling of illness),
>nausea,
>shortness of breath

Read More

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

Chest pain or pressure is a common symptom of heart attack. Cardiac chest pain is often vague, or dull, and may be described as a pressure or band-like sensation, squeezing, heaviness, or other discomfort. Heart attacks frequently occur from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.due to higher adrenaline (a hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight) levels released by the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Interestingly, heart attacks do not usually happen during exercise, although exercise is commonly associated with angina (heart pain). Approximately 1/4th of all heart attacks are silent i.e. without associated chest pain. In diabetics, the incidence of “silent” heart attacks may be much higher.

>chest pressure,
>sweating,
>jaw pain,
>heartburn and/or indigestion,
>arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either),
>upper back pain,
>general malaise (vague feeling of illness),
>nausea,
>shortness of breath

Read More

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

Chest pain or pressure is a common symptom of heart attack. Cardiac chest pain is often vague, or dull, and may be described as a pressure or band-like sensation, squeezing, heaviness, or other discomfort. Heart attacks frequently occur from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.due to higher adrenaline (a hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight) levels released by the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Interestingly, heart attacks do not usually happen during exercise, although exercise is commonly associated with angina (heart pain). Approximately 1/4th of all heart attacks are silent i.e. without associated chest pain. In diabetics, the incidence of “silent” heart attacks may be much higher.

>chest pressure,
>sweating,
>jaw pain,
>heartburn and/or indigestion,
>arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either),
>upper back pain,
>general malaise (vague feeling of illness),
>nausea,
>shortness of breath

Read More

Heart Attack

What is the disease?

Myocardial or Cardiac infarction or Heart attack may be defined as infarction (death) of an area of the heart muscle, usually as a result of occlusion or blockage of a coronary artery (vessel supplying the heart with oxygen rich blood). Infarction occurs as a result of a sudden insufficiency of blood supply either due to some obstruction, pressure, clot or the artery twisting upon itself which in turn produces an area of necrosis (death of cells, tissue, or part of the organ). Death of the heart muscle often causes chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue resulting in a malfunction or sudden death.

Cause

A heart attack is caused by the formation of a blood clot on a cholesterol plaque located on the inner wall of an artery that supplies the heart (coronary artery). Cholesterol plaque is caused by deposits of cholesterol in the artery walls and is a process that begins as early as in the late teens. Over the period of time, the accumulation of cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and resultant narrowing of the arteries; a process called asatherosclerosis. Smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes can accelerate plaque formation. Ultimately, atherosclerosis causes significant narrowing of the coronary arteries to the extent that the blood supply to the heart muscle is compromised. During exercise or excitement, the narrowed coronary arteries cannot increase the blood supply to meet the increased oxygen demand of the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is thus deprived of blood oxygen, a condition called ischemia results. When the narrowing in the artery becomes critical, angina (heart pain) may result leading over time to a heart attack.Occasionally the surface of the cholesterol plaque in the artery may rupture (tear away), which leads to the formation of blood clot on the surface of the plaque, which then completely occludes blood flow in the vessel and results in a heart attack. The cause of this “plaque rupture is largely unknown, but contributing factors may include cigarette smoking, elevated cholesterol, elevated levels of blood catecholamines (adrenaline), high blood pressure, and other mechanical and biochemical forces.Unlike angina (heart pain), death of the heart muscle from a heart attack is permanent.

Read More

Heart Attack

What is the disease?

Myocardial or Cardiac infarction or Heart attack may be defined as infarction (death) of an area of the heart muscle, usually as a result of occlusion or blockage of a coronary artery (vessel supplying the heart with oxygen rich blood). Infarction occurs as a result of a sudden insufficiency of blood supply either due to some obstruction, pressure, clot or the artery twisting upon itself which in turn produces an area of necrosis (death of cells, tissue, or part of the organ). Death of the heart muscle often causes chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue resulting in a malfunction or sudden death.

Cause

A heart attack is caused by the formation of a blood clot on a cholesterol plaque located on the inner wall of an artery that supplies the heart (coronary artery). Cholesterol plaque is caused by deposits of cholesterol in the artery walls and is a process that begins as early as in the late teens. Over the period of time, the accumulation of cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and resultant narrowing of the arteries; a process called asatherosclerosis. Smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes can accelerate plaque formation. Ultimately, atherosclerosis causes significant narrowing of the coronary arteries to the extent that the blood supply to the heart muscle is compromised. During exercise or excitement, the narrowed coronary arteries cannot increase the blood supply to meet the increased oxygen demand of the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is thus deprived of blood oxygen, a condition called ischemia results. When the narrowing in the artery becomes critical, angina (heart pain) may result leading over time to a heart attack.Occasionally the surface of the cholesterol plaque in the artery may rupture (tear away), which leads to the formation of blood clot on the surface of the plaque, which then completely occludes blood flow in the vessel and results in a heart attack. The cause of this “plaque rupture is largely unknown, but contributing factors may include cigarette smoking, elevated cholesterol, elevated levels of blood catecholamines (adrenaline), high blood pressure, and other mechanical and biochemical forces.Unlike angina (heart pain), death of the heart muscle from a heart attack is permanent.

Read More

Heart Attack

What is the disease?

Myocardial or Cardiac infarction or Heart attack may be defined as infarction (death) of an area of the heart muscle, usually as a result of occlusion or blockage of a coronary artery (vessel supplying the heart with oxygen rich blood). Infarction occurs as a result of a sudden insufficiency of blood supply either due to some obstruction, pressure, clot or the artery twisting upon itself which in turn produces an area of necrosis (death of cells, tissue, or part of the organ). Death of the heart muscle often causes chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue resulting in a malfunction or sudden death.

Cause

A heart attack is caused by the formation of a blood clot on a cholesterol plaque located on the inner wall of an artery that supplies the heart (coronary artery). Cholesterol plaque is caused by deposits of cholesterol in the artery walls and is a process that begins as early as in the late teens. Over the period of time, the accumulation of cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and resultant narrowing of the arteries; a process called asatherosclerosis. Smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes can accelerate plaque formation. Ultimately, atherosclerosis causes significant narrowing of the coronary arteries to the extent that the blood supply to the heart muscle is compromised. During exercise or excitement, the narrowed coronary arteries cannot increase the blood supply to meet the increased oxygen demand of the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is thus deprived of blood oxygen, a condition called ischemia results. When the narrowing in the artery becomes critical, angina (heart pain) may result leading over time to a heart attack.Occasionally the surface of the cholesterol plaque in the artery may rupture (tear away), which leads to the formation of blood clot on the surface of the plaque, which then completely occludes blood flow in the vessel and results in a heart attack. The cause of this “plaque rupture is largely unknown, but contributing factors may include cigarette smoking, elevated cholesterol, elevated levels of blood catecholamines (adrenaline), high blood pressure, and other mechanical and biochemical forces.Unlike angina (heart pain), death of the heart muscle from a heart attack is permanent.

Read More

Heart Attack

What is the disease?

Myocardial or Cardiac infarction or Heart attack may be defined as infarction (death) of an area of the heart muscle, usually as a result of occlusion or blockage of a coronary artery (vessel supplying the heart with oxygen rich blood). Infarction occurs as a result of a sudden insufficiency of blood supply either due to some obstruction, pressure, clot or the artery twisting upon itself which in turn produces an area of necrosis (death of cells, tissue, or part of the organ). Death of the heart muscle often causes chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue resulting in a malfunction or sudden death.

Cause

A heart attack is caused by the formation of a blood clot on a cholesterol plaque located on the inner wall of an artery that supplies the heart (coronary artery). Cholesterol plaque is caused by deposits of cholesterol in the artery walls and is a process that begins as early as in the late teens. Over the period of time, the accumulation of cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and resultant narrowing of the arteries; a process called asatherosclerosis. Smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes can accelerate plaque formation. Ultimately, atherosclerosis causes significant narrowing of the coronary arteries to the extent that the blood supply to the heart muscle is compromised. During exercise or excitement, the narrowed coronary arteries cannot increase the blood supply to meet the increased oxygen demand of the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is thus deprived of blood oxygen, a condition called ischemia results. When the narrowing in the artery becomes critical, angina (heart pain) may result leading over time to a heart attack.Occasionally the surface of the cholesterol plaque in the artery may rupture (tear away), which leads to the formation of blood clot on the surface of the plaque, which then completely occludes blood flow in the vessel and results in a heart attack. The cause of this “plaque rupture is largely unknown, but contributing factors may include cigarette smoking, elevated cholesterol, elevated levels of blood catecholamines (adrenaline), high blood pressure, and other mechanical and biochemical forces.Unlike angina (heart pain), death of the heart muscle from a heart attack is permanent.

Read More