What is Myocardial Infarction?

Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is a serious condition where a coronary artery (a blood vessel of the heart) is blocked and can not supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen.

This causes damage to the heart muscle. The typical symptoms are chest and arm pain, shortness of breath, nausea and a cold sweat. A heart attack requires immediate medical assistance.

Risks of myocardial infarction

Important risk factors:

• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• drinking alcohol
• smoking
• being overweight and having a family member who has had a heart attack.

People who have had one heart attack are more likely to have another. Heart attacks are slightly more common in men than women, and are most common in middle-aged and older adults.

Symptoms of myocardial infarction

The most common symptom is the feeling of pressure, tightness or pain in the chest, which may spread to the left arm or the jaw or the back.

Not all people who are having a heart attack have chest pain. Other common symptoms are shortness of breath, cold sweats, dizziness, fainting and nausea.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by a physician based on the symptoms, the physical examination, a troponin test (troponin is a protein found in the blood after a heart attack) and an electrocardiogram (an ECG or EKG). The most conclusive test to check for blockages in the heart arteries is coronary angiography, where dye is injected into the heart blood vessels and X-rays are taken.

Myocardial infarction treatment

Treatment during a heart attack:

• Aims to widen the blocked blood vessel
• remove the blockage in the heart artery and help the person having the heart attack with pain relief
• supplying extra oxygen

To widen the artery, the paramedics or doctors will give a tablet or spray immediately, called nitroglycerine. To remove the blockage, the person having the heart attack will have medications to thin the blood. Sometimes urgent cardiac catheterization (a tube through the leg blood vessels into the heart blood vessels) is done to find and remove the blockage. If the blockage or narrowing is severe, the doctor may put a stent (a small wire cage) into the blood vessel to widen the vessel.

It is important to have urgent treatment in order to prevent heart muscle damage. After a heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation (physical therapy) is important to help the heart regain strength.

Prevention

Preventing heart attacks involves:

• life-style and diet changes
• being physically active
• maintaining a healthy weight
• quitting smoking
• reducing alcohol intake

Good management of other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels, also helps.

Other names for myocardial infarction

• Heart attack
• Acute myocardial infarction

**What​ is Myocardial Infarction?**



**Question: What is Myocardial ​Infarction?**



**Answer:**



Myocardial ‍infarction, commonly known as a heart‍ attack, occurs when there is an abrupt blockage of blood flow to a portion of‌ the heart‌ muscle. This blockage‌ deprives the heart tissue of oxygen⁤ and ​nutrients, leading to⁣ damage or death of the affected cells. Myocardial infarctions are often ​caused by the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in the‌ coronary arteries, the ⁢blood vessels that⁣ supply the heart with blood.



**Keywords:** Myocardial Infarction, Heart Attack, ​Coronary⁣ Arteries,‌ Plaque, Ischemia, Necrosis



**Additional Information:**



**Symptoms of Myocardial Infarction:**



* ⁣Chest pain or discomfort, ‌often described⁢ as pressure, ‍squeezing, or tightness

* Pain radiating to the neck, ‌back, ​arms, ​or jaw

* Shortness of breath

* ‌Nausea, vomiting, ⁤or ‍lightheadedness

* Breaking out in a ⁢cold‍ sweat

* Fatigue



**Causes of​ Myocardial Infarction:**



* Atherosclerosis: Buildup ‍of plaque in the ⁢coronary arteries

*‌ Blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart

* Severe spasm of a coronary artery

* Heart valve disease

* Diabetes

*‍ Obesity

*‍ High⁣ blood pressure

*​ Smoking

* Family ‍history of heart disease



**Treatment for Myocardial Infarction:**



* Medications to dissolve blood ⁣clots

* Angioplasty and stenting to open blocked arteries

* ‍Bypass surgery to create new channels for ⁣blood flow

* Cardiac rehabilitation for​ recovery and lifestyle⁤ modifications



**Prevention of Myocardial Infarction:**



* Healthy diet

* Regular ⁣physical activity

* Cessation of smoking

* Management of blood⁤ pressure ​and cholesterol levels

* Diabetes control

*⁤ Regular medical checkups and screenings