Also known as heart attack, myocardial infarction is a medical emergency caused due to short or abrupt cut-off of blood flow to the heart muscle. It usually happens when one or more coronary arteries get blocked due to plaque build-up in them. In case of a heart attack, timely restoration of blood flow is vital to prevent permanent damage to the heart muscle and even death.
The definition of myocardial infarction as per pathology is “myocardial cell death due to prolonged ischemia”. Ischemia is the inadequate blood supply to any part or organ of the body, particularly the heart muscle.
The three types of heart attack are:
Most heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease in which one or more of the heart arteries are blocked. This blockage is usually due to cholesterol-containing deposits called plaques, which can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart. If a plaque breaks open, it can form a blood clot in the heart.
A heart attack may be caused by complete or partial blockage of a heart (coronary) artery. Other causes include:
Symptoms of a heart attack vary. Some people have mild symptoms, while few others may have severe symptoms or no symptoms. Common heart attack symptoms include:
Several health conditions, lifestyle habits, age and family history can increase risk for heart disease and heart attack. These are
In case of a heart attack or heart attack-like symptoms, one must visit a doctor immediately for necessary physical examination. It includes checking the pulse, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels. The doctor may suggest following tests:
Also known as an electrocardiogram, it is one of the first tests done to diagnose the condition as it helps to measure the heart’s electrical activity.
It helps to detect the presence of certain cardiac enzymes or cardiac markers in the bloodstream which are released when heart muscle cells are damaged. Presence of these cardiac enzymes suggests a heart attack or some other heart condition.
This test helps to check if any part of the heart is blocked or damaged. It makes use of sound waves to create images of the heart and helps to check if the blood is moving properly through the heart and heart valves.
Also known as coronary catheterization, it is a procedure that uses X-ray imaging to see your heart's blood vessels. The test is generally done to see if there's a restriction in blood flow going to the heart.
During an angiogram, a thin tube called catheter is inserted into an artery in the arm, leg or neck and guided to the heart. A type of dye that's visible by an X-ray machine is then injected into the blood vessels of your heart via the tube. The X-ray machine takes a series of images (angiograms), offering a look at your blood vessels.If necessary, the doctor can open clogged heart arteries (angioplasty) during the procedure.
An MRI machine uses radio waves and a magnetic field to generate images of heart and chest which helps for further treatment.
This type of scan is done with the help of a computer and it generates images that can help diagnose heart problems and understand the severity of heart damage.
This procedure is done after injecting a radioactive dye into the blood but it is different from angiograms as it uses some computer-enhanced methods to create heart images.
To treat myocardial infarction or a heart attack, blood flow must be restored to the affected heart muscle before it gets damaged. Hence, healthcare practitioners use a combination of treatments to treat the condition and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Giving additional or supplementary oxygen to someone who has low blood oxygen levels and is experiencing breathing problems can help to increase oxygen circulation in the blood. This helps increase oxygen circulation in the blood and prevents excessive strain on the heart.
Health experts may prescribe different medications basis the symptoms experienced, and to widen the blood vessels and restore adequate blood flow to the heart. This includes:
This includes:
Heart attack complications often arise due to heart muscle damage. Potential complications include:
Here are ways to prevent a heart attack:
Myocardial infarction or heart attack is a severe condition that requires immediate medical treatment. When someone suffers a heart attack, it is essential to restore blood flow to the heart as soon as possible to prevent permanent heart damage. People with heart conditions are at a higher risk of suffering a heart attack. Hence, they must make necessary lifestyle and diet changes without delay to stay healthy and improve heart health.
Source: my.clevelandclinic, emedicine.medscape, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, hopkinsmedicine, healthline, sciencedirect, mayoclinic, secondscount
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