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Myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack) is a life-threatening medical condition where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked, resulting in areas of the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen, resulting in irreversible damage. Myocardial infarction was the third commonest cause of death in Hong Kong accounting for 13% of all deaths in 2020. Healthy Matters will provide you with a complete guide on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction.
Myocardial infarction (heart attack) happens when one or more areas of the heart muscle don’t get enough oxygen, commonly as a result of blockages of major arteries that supply to the heart, which cause damage to the heart muscle. The heart is an important organ that pumps blood to the body. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and essential nutrients for the heart muscles to work efficiently. When the coronary arteries are blocked by a blood clot suddenly, the blood flow to the heart is disrupted and the muscle begins to die (infarction).
Myocardial infarction is usually caused by a buildup of fatty plaque deposits in the walls of arteries, causing narrowings. This process is named atherosclerosis. When the wall of the plaque ruptures, clots form on the fragments (thrombosis), which block blood flow in the coronary arteries, ultimately leading to damage to the heart muscles. The scientific term for this process is “myocardial infarction”.
Myocardial infarction risk factors include:
Myocardial infarction may present with the following symptoms:
Anyone with the above symptoms should immediately seek urgent medical help or attend the Accident & Emergency Department in a hospital.
It is important to note that not everyone with myocardial infarction experiences severe chest pain. Patients with poorly controlled diabetes have an increased risk of developing silent heart attacks with minimal to no associated symptoms, due to long-term damage of the sensory system. It is important to seek medical help if in doubt.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), describes the disease caused by a sudden interruption of coronary blood flow. Myocardial infarction is the consequence of an ACS. The three main types of ACS include:
Myocardial infarction can also be classified into 5 types based on the causes and circumstances:
Myocardial infarction is usually diagnosed by electrocardiogram (ECG) and the presence or absence of serologic markers in blood tests.
The ultimate goal of treatment is to restore the blood supply to the heart muscles under safe conditions. In the emergency setting, you may be given oxygen, intravenous fluids or medication and attached to monitoring devices to monitor parameters such as blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation and heart rate.
Treatment of myocardial infarction depends on the type of heart attack, the onset of the symptoms and your general health condition. Treatment options include:
Recovering from a myocardial infarction (heart attack) can take several weeks or months, it is important to make lifestyle changes and take medications as instructed to reduce the risk of having another myocardial infarction.
There are mainly four types of medicines widely used to reduce the risk of developing another myocardial infarction:
Myocardial infarction complications can vary widely from mild to life-threatening. Potential complications of myocardial infarction includes:
Myocardial infarction occurs when one or more areas of the heart muscle don’t get enough oxygen, which causes damage to the heart muscle. Common risk factors of myocardial infarction include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity and a family history of heart disease.
Myocardial infarction is commonly diagnosed by a combination of clinical presentation, the use of an electrocardiogram (ECG) and the presence or absence of serologic markers in blood tests. Other tests including chest X-ray, echocardiogram and coronary angiography are also useful in ruling out a heart attack and identifying areas of the heart that have been damaged.
People with myocardial infarction commonly present with severe central crushing chest pain which sometimes radiates from the chest to the jaw, neck and left arm. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, cold and clammy skin, feeling weak and an overwhelming feeling of anxiety.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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