Heart Attack

A heart attack is commonly known as a myocardial infarction or an acute myocardial infarction. A heart attack is the result of an interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, which causes heart cells to die. This occurs due to the blockage of a coronary artery following the rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Atherosclerotic plaque is an unstable collection of lipids and white blood cells that are present in the wall of an artery. If the resulting ischemia and ensuing oxygen shortage is left untreated for a sufficient period of time, damage or death of heart muscle tissue may occur.

Sudden chest pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, sweating, anxiety, and palpitations are all symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. Compared to men, women may experience fewer typical symptoms. Women most commonly experience shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, and a feeling of indigestion. Silent myocardial infarctions are responsible for approximately one quarter of all myocardial infarctions.

An electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac MRI and various blood tests are all diagnostic tests that are available to detect heart muscle damage. Creatine kinase-MB and troponin levels are the most often used blood markers.  Oxygen, aspirin, and sublingual nitroglycerin are immediate treatments for suspected acute myocardial infarction.

Thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention is used to treat most cases of STEMI (ST elevation MI).  Non-ST elevation MI should be managed with medication, although percutaneous coronary intervention is often performed during hospital admission. Bypass surgery may be an option for people who have multiple blockages and who are relatively stable and for diabetics especially. Bypass surgery is also an option for emergency cases.

The leading cause for death worldwide for both men and women is a heart attack. Previous cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, chronic kidney disease, excessive alcohol consumption, heart failure, the abuse of certain drugs, chronic high stress levels, tobacco smoking and older age are important risk factors of a heart attack. Other risk factors include high blood levels of certain lipids such as triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein as well as low levels of high-density lipoprotein.