Myocardial infarction is, unfortunately, still a very common disease - it is estimated that around 200,000 patients die each year in Poland because of it. The use of various harmful stimulants, as well as a poor diet or certain medical conditions can contribute to its occurrence. In the case of a myocardial infarction, one of the most important factors is the time that elapses between its occurrence and the start of treatment - so what symptoms may indicate a myocardial infarction, and what is the treatment of a myocardial infarction?
Table of contents:
- Myocardial infarction - what is it?
- Myocardial infarction - causes
- Myocardial infarction - early symptoms
- Myocardial infarction - types
- Heart attack - treatment
- Heart attack - how long does it take to recover?
Myocardialinfarction has continuously been one of the leading causes of death of people all over the world for years. The disease is mentioned in various media very often, both because of its prevalence and because an appropriate lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of the disease. In theory, patients should be quite knowledgeable about the problem, but in practice, there are still a relatively large number of people who do not know the causes of a heart attack or its early symptoms.
Heart attack - what is it?
Myocardial infarction itself is a fairly general term that refers to tissue necrosis caused by ischaemia. Humans can suffer from pulmonary infarctions, cerebral infarctions (known as strokes) and myocardial infarctions.
The blood supply of oxygen and important nutrients to the tissues is simply necessary for the various tissues and organs of the human body to function - without a constant supply, after a shorter or longer period of time, the cells begin to die. In the first stage of a myocardial infarction, cardiomyocytes, i.e. cardiac muscle cells, cease to contract properly, followed by their breakdown.
Myocardial infarction - causes
The most common cause of a myocardial infarction is the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in one of the vessels supplying blood to this organ. These vessels are referred to as coronary arteries and when the plaque ruptures, a thrombus is formed in the area, which blocks the blood supply to the area of the heart muscle supplied by the artery in question.
Various problems can actually promote the formation and subsequent rupture of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. Some of these are non-modifiable, meaning that, in principle, they cannot be influenced by patients or doctors, while others are already modifiable, so that by influencing them, the risk of heart attack can be reduced. Non-modifiable MI risk factors include:
- gender (men are more likely to have a heart attack),
- age (the older a person is, the greater their risk of having a heart attack),
- genetic conditions.
The second group of risk factors for myocardial inf arction are modifiable factors, which include:
- hypertension,
- diabetes,
- excessive body weight,
- smoking,
- metabolic syndrome,
- increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood,
- poor eating habits,
- excessive alcohol consumption,
- low physical activity.
Myocardial infarction - early symptoms
The most characteristic symptom of a heart attack is chest pain. It is diffuse in nature, meaning that the patient is unable to pinpoint the exact area where it hurts. However, chest pain is definitely not the only possible symptom of a heart attack - other conditions that are sometimes encountered in the course of a heart attack include:
- pain behind the sternum,
- shortness of breath,
- increased sweating,
- a feeling of considerable anxiety, fear of death,
- abdominal pain,
- dizziness,
- pain radiating to the neck, jaw or shoulder.
It is worth noting here that the symptoms of a heart attack are not always obvious. As an example, in patients with diabetes, chest pain may not be typical or... it may not occur at all.
Myocardialinfarction, photo: panthermedia
Myocardial infarction - types
Myocardialinfarction is actually a rather general term - there are different types. Considering the ECG abnormalities, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are mentioned. With regard to the extent of the infarction, a distinction is made between non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and subendocardial infarction (subendocardial infarction).
Myocardial infarction - treatment
Time is of the essence when treating a myocardial infarction. A patient who suspects he/she has had a heart attack should call the emergency medical team immediately. Initially, the patient is given basic medication such as acetylsalicylic acid, as well as oxygen. Hospital treatment, on the other hand, varies greatly and the course of action depends, for example, on the type of infarction the patient has had. Surgical treatment may be used, such as percutaneous coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting, commonly referred to as bypass grafting. However, fibrinolytic treatment, i.e. the process of dissolving thrombus using appropriate intravenous drugs, may also be used.
It is worth mentioning here that the treatment of myocardial infarction is not only the use of measures to prevent myocardial necrosis. Patients are also given painkillers and, if necessary, agents to stabilise their blood pressure or preparations to correct any electrolyte disturbances.
Myocardial infarction - how long does it take to recover?
In the event of a myocardial infarction, it is of the utmost importance that the patient is treated as quickly as possible so that their chances of survival increase. However, the treatment of a myocardial infarction definitely does not end with stabilising the patient's condition - once this has happened, rehabilitation is usually necessary. Regular exercise is aimed at getting the patient back to full fitness, but it is also possible to reduce the risk of another heart attack. The patient is usually able to return to basic activities after just a few weeks, but it can sometimes take several months to fully recover.
