Amyocardial infarction is an acute coronary syndrome in which the lumen of an artery closes. The most characteristic symptom is chest pain, but there are also a number of other unusual symptoms that may indicate a heart attack. The most important thing to do if these occur is to seek immediate medical attention.
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Myocardialinfarction, and the consequences caused by it, is the leading cause of death in Poland. The main risk and contributing factor for myocardial infarction is ischaemic heart disease as every year, as many as 10% of a million patients suffer a heart attack.
What is a heart attack caused by?
It is an acute coronary syndrome where there is a blockage of an artery (causing it to close), resulting from the detachment of a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque previously narrowing an artery. Despite widely developed diagnostics, the mortality rate from myocardial infarction is very high, reaching up to 40%. Particularly in the pre-hospital setting, where patients die within an hour of the onset of symptoms.[1]
The primary, most characteristic symptom of myocardial infarction is chest pain.[2] This pain is located behind the sternum, described by patients as a burning, wrenching pain of a dull nature that may spread to the left shoulder, elbow, hand, neck or back. Such pain, with acute coronary syndromes, usually lasts no less than 20 minutes and is the first warning signal.
In addition, unusual symptoms such as:
- a feeling of breathlessness despite the absence of physical exertion,
- abdominal pain,
- nausea
- vomiting,
- general weakness[3]
A person complaining of such complaints should report immediately or be transported to hospital. The examination that is first performed, once the patient is already under medical care, is an ECG. Then, if there is uncertainty about the existence of a myocardial infarction, the doctor may order a biochemical test for markers such as troponins - these are the most specific and sensitive markers for determining acute heart damage. On the basis of the tests and history, the doctor takes appropriate action.[4]
Chestpain, photo by panthermedia
What are the main causes of acute coronary syndromes?
We can speak of certain risk factors. First-order risk factors refer to fat metabolism disorders (an increase in total blood cholesterol and triglycerides with a decrease in HDL cholesterol), the presence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity or smoking.
Second-order risk factors include low physical activity, inability to relieve stress and relax, alcohol abuse and elevated uric acid levels in the blood. Non-modifiable risk factors such as age, gender or family history of heart disease should also be mentioned. [5]
Patients after a myocardial infarction have to deal with complications such as:
- cardiac arrhythmias,
- heart failure,
- rupture of the left ventricular wall or ventricular septum,
- thromboses and embolisms.[6]
Prevention and education to increase awareness and knowledge is therefore extremely important.
