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Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. This is most often due to a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries.

Pathophysiology

The heart muscle requires a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to function. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. If one or more of these arteries become blocked, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery becomes ischemic and can die if the blockage is not quickly resolved.

The most common cause of myocardial infarction is atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries. When a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form and block the artery.

Symptoms

The classic symptoms of myocardial infarction include:

• Chest pain or discomfort, often described as a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the center or left side of the chest.
• Pain or discomfort that radiates to the shoulders, neck, arms, back, teeth, or jaw.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea, vomiting, or lightheadedness.
• Cold sweat.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of myocardial infarction is based on the patient's history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Key tests include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records the electrical activity of the heart and can show changes indicative of a heart attack.
• Blood tests: Cardiac biomarkers such as troponin are released into the blood when the heart muscle is damaged.
• Coronary angiography: This imaging test can show blockages in the coronary arteries.

Treatment

The treatment of myocardial infarction aims to restore blood flow to the affected part of the heart muscle as quickly as possible. Treatment options include:

• Medications such as aspirin, thrombolytics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors.
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, which involves using a balloon to open the blocked artery and placing a stent to keep it open.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a surgical procedure that creates a new path for blood to flow to the heart.

Prevention

Preventive measures for myocardial infarction include:

• Lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and smoking cessation.
• Managing risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Medications such as statins to lower cholesterol levels.

Prognosis

The prognosis after a myocardial infarction depends on the extent of the heart muscle damage and the timeliness of treatment. Early treatment can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the risk of complications such as heart failure and arrhythmias.

Also see

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Cardiac arrest
• Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
• Cardiogenetic disorders‎
• Cardiomegaly‎
• Cardiomyopathy‎
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation‎
• Chronic rheumatic heart diseases‎
• Congenital heart defects‎
• Heart neoplasia‎
• Ischemic heart diseases‎
• Pericardial disorders
• Syndromes affecting the heart‎
• Valvular heart disease‎

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A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
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B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
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• Cardiogeriatrics
• Cardiorenal syndrome
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D

• Duke Treadmill Score
• Duroziez's disease

E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
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H

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
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• Heart to Heart (1949 film)
• High-output heart failure
• Hyperdynamic precordium

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
• Intraventricular dyssynchrony
• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

• Mydicar
• Myocardial bridge
• Myocardial disarray
• Myocardial rupture
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• Myocarditis

N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

• OLR1
• Ostial disease

P

• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Pathophysiology of heart failure
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Pulmonary vein stenosis

R

• Right axis deviation
• Roemheld syndrome

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• Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
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• Shone's syndrome
• Strain pattern
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
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T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
• Vibroacoustic disease
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W

• Waon therapy