A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when one or more areas of the heart muscle don't get enough oxygen. This happens when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. Show
Causes of a Heart AttackThe blockage is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis). Plaque is made up of deposits, cholesterol, and other substances. When a plaque breaks (ruptures), a blood clot quickly forms. The blood clot is the actual cause of the heart attack. If the blood and oxygen supply is cut off, muscle cells of the heart begin to suffer damage and start to die. Irreversible damage begins within 30 minutes of blockage. The result is heart muscle affected by the lack of oxygen no longer works as it should. Who is at risk for a heart attack?There are two types of risk factors for heart attack.
Inherited (genetic) factors: Who is most at risk?These groups are most at risk:
Acquired risk factors: Who is most at risk?These groups are most at risk:
A heart attack can happen to anyone. When you take the time to learn which risk factors apply to you, you can take steps to eliminate or reduce them. Managing heart attack risk factorsHere are ways to manage your risks for a heart attack:
Prevention of Heart AttacksYou can help prevent a heart attack by knowing your risk factors for coronary artery disease and heart attack and taking action to lower those risks. Even if you’ve already had a heart attack or are told that your chances of having a heart attack are high, you can still lower your risk, most likely by making a few lifestyle changes that promote better health.
Symptoms of a Heart AttackThe following are the most common symptoms of a heart attack. But each person may have slightly different symptoms.
Although chest pain is the key warning sign of a heart attack, it may be confused with other conditions. These include indigestion, pleurisy, pneumonia, tenderness of the cartilage that attaches the front of the ribs to the breastbone, and heartburn. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Responding to heart attack warning signsIf you or someone you know has any of the above warning signs, act right away. Call 911, or your local emergency number. Treatment for a heart attackThe goal of treatment for a heart attack is to relieve pain, preserve the heart muscle function, and prevent death. Treatment in the emergency department may include:
You may need other procedures to restore blood flow to the heart. Those procedures are described below. Coronary angioplastyWith this procedure, a balloon is used to create a bigger opening in the vessel to increase blood flow. This is often followed by inserting a stent into the coronary artery to help keep the vessel open. Although angioplasty is done in other blood vessels elsewhere in the body, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) refers to angioplasty in the coronary arteries. This lets more blood flow into the heart. PCI is also called percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). There are several types of PTCA procedures:
Coronary artery bypassThis surgery is most commonly referred to as simply bypass surgery or CABG (pronounced "cabbage"). It is often done in people who have chest pain (angina) and coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is when plaque has built up in the arteries. During the surgery, the surgeon makes a bypass by grafting a piece of a vein above and below the blocked area of a coronary artery. This lets blood flow around the blockage. The surgeon usually takes veins from a leg, but he or she may also use arteries from the chest or an arm. Sometimes, you may need more than one bypass surgery to restore blood flow to all areas of the heart. What is the main cause of a myocardial infarction?The blockage is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis). Plaque is made up of deposits, cholesterol, and other substances. When a plaque breaks (ruptures), a blood clot quickly forms. The blood clot is the actual cause of the heart attack.
What are you at risk for after a myocardial infarction?Survivors of a first acute myocardial infarction (MI) face a substantial risk of further cardiovascular events, including death, recurrent MI, heart failure, arrhythmias, angina, and stroke.
Which of the following conditions is most commonly responsible for myocardial infarction?Most myocardial infarctions are due to underlying coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. With coronary artery occlusion, the myocardium is deprived of oxygen.
What are 3 common complications of a myocardial infarction?Complications of MI include arrhythmic, mechanical, and inflammatory (early pericarditis and post-MI syndrome) sequelae, as well as left ventricular mural thrombus (LVMT) (see the following image).
|