A Myocardial infarction (MI) is when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood flow. This causes damage to the heart muscle. MI is also called a heart attack. When this happens, it’s important to get medical help right away.
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What is Myocardial Infarction
A myocardial infarction also called a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. Without blood, the heart muscle cannot get the oxygen it needs, and it begins to die. A heart attack is a medical emergency. Over 700,000 Americans have a myocardial infarction (heart attack) each year. A myocardial infarction occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. This blockage is usually caused by a buildup of plaque and cholesterol on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. The buildup narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle.
Symptoms
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a condition in which the supply of blood to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off. This leads to damage to the heart muscle. The main symptom of an MI is severe chest pain that lasts for more than 15 minutes. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
Although chest discomfort is the most common warning sign of a heart attack, it can be mistaken for other ailments. Indigestion, pleurisy, pneumonia, soreness of the cartilage that connects the front of the ribs to the breastbone, and heartburn are among them. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.
Causes
The occlusion is caused by plaque formation in the arteries (atherosclerosis). Plaque is composed of deposits, cholesterol, and other materials. When a plaque ruptures, a blood clot develops immediately. The true cause of the heart attack is a blood clot.
If the heart’s blood and oxygen supply are cut off, the muscle cells begin to suffer damage and perish. Within 30 minutes of the obstruction, irreversible harm occurs. As a result, the cardiac muscle damaged by the lack of oxygen no longer functions normally.
Who are at Risk for Myocardial Infarction
Anyone can have a heart attack. You may take efforts to remove or lessen risk factors if you take the time to identify which ones apply to you.
- People who have developed high blood pressure (hypertension)
- People who have developed low HDL cholesterol levels, high LDL cholesterol levels, or high triglyceride levels
- Those that smoke cigarettes
- People who are under a lot of stress People who use an excessive amount of alcohol
- People who live sedentary lives
- People who are 30% or more overweight
- People who consume a high-saturated-fat diet
- People suffering from type 2 diabetes
Prevention of Myocardial Infarction
The purpose of heart attack treatment is to reduce discomfort, preserve heart muscle function, and prevent death.
The following procedures may be performed at the emergency department:
Nitroglycerin with morphine intravenous treatment
Heart and vital signs are continuously monitored.
Oxygen treatment is used to increase the oxygenation of the injured cardiac muscle.
Pain reliever medication. As a result, the burden on the heart is reduced. The heart’s oxygen requirement reduces.
Cardiac drugs such as beta-blockers are used to increase blood flow to the heart, enhance blood supply, avoid arrhythmias, and lower heart rate and blood pressure.
Fibrinolytic treatment. This is an intravenous infusion of a medication that breaks the blood clot, allowing blood flow to resume.
Aspirin or clopidogrel antithrombotic or antiplatelet treatment is used to keep blood clots from forming again.
Antihyperlipidemic. These medications reduce blood lipids (fats), notably low-density lipid (LDL) cholesterol. Statins are a class of antihyperlipidemic drugs. Simvastatin, atorvastatin, and pravastatin are examples. Other medications that may be used to decrease cholesterol levels include bile acid sequestrants (colesevelam, cholestyramine, and colestipol) and nicotinic acid (niacin).
Conclusion
A myocardial infarction (MI) is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. An MI occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque in the arteries. This can cause the heart muscle to become damaged or even die. Treatment for an MI typically includes lifestyle changes, medication, and/or surgery.