Myocardial Infarction (MI), also known as heart attack is caused when blood supply decreases or completely stops to a portion of the myocardium (heart muscle). A heart attack may be silent and go unnoticed; or else it could be fatal resulting in hemodynamic deterioration and sudden death.
Without a blood supply, the oxygen supply to the heart is disrupted. Prolonged lack of oxygen results in heart muscle damage and they begin to die.
There can be a complete or partial blockage of the coronary artery. There are three types of acute MI. They are as follows -
The heart attack symptoms can vary from one person to another.
They are as follows -
Many people who have heart attacks exhibit different symptoms and the severity of symptoms also varies. Few people experience the mild type of pain; while others have more severe pain. Some people have no symptoms. However, when someone has more heart attack signs and symptoms, the possibility of myocardial infarction or heart attack also increases. In some cases, women might have different myocardial infarction symptoms than men. E.g They may feel more tired without much physical activity.
It's important to seek medical help immediately. Many times people wait too long because they don't recognize the warning symptoms. You can follow these steps:
Get emergency medical assistance- If you suspect you're having a heart attack, don't panic.
Call your doctor or have someone drive you to a nearby medical care centre (hospital or clinic). If there's no one you can call someone who can provide you with instant help to reach the hospital.
Take nitroglycerin, only if it is prescribed to you by a doctor
Take aspirin only if it's prescribed to you by a doctor
Myocardial infarction causes include one or more blockages in the coronary arteries. Over a prolonged period of time, a buildup of fat and other deposits gets accumulated on the inner lining of the artery walls, called atheroma or plaques. This can narrow the walls of the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. This condition is called coronary artery disease, which causes a heart attack. When the plaques crack it results in a blood clot that can block the artery and cause a heart attack.
Heart attack risk factors are as follows -
Men above 45 years of age or older and women above 55 are more prone to have a heart attack than the younger population.
It involves smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke.
High blood pressure for a prolonged period of time can harm arteries and lead to an acute MI.
High levels of blood cholesterol or triglyceride are a predisposing factor for myocardial infarction. Obesity. Obesity is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels. This can increase the risk of myocardial infarction or a heart attack.
It causes your body's blood sugar levels to rise, thus increasing the chances of a heart attack.
Metabolic syndrome is observed when a person has high blood sugar, high blood pressure and obesity. This syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Genetic factors are major predisposing factors for myocardial infarction.
Lack of exercise results in high blood cholesterol levels and obesity, thus leading to heart attack risks.
The way you respond to stress factors increases the risk of an acute MI. Illicit drug use - Drug addiction is one of the reasons for myocardial infarction.
Here are the ways to prevent a myocardial infarction or a heart attack -
Myocardial infarction diagnosis consists Electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, chest x-ray, angiogram and cardiac CT or MRI to come to a correct heart diagnosis.
The diagnostic tests for a heart attack include
A myocardial infarction ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart. It's a simple test to detect heart health.
Specific heart proteins in the blood can help to diagnose heart problems.
A chest X-ray helps the doctor to check the heart size and its blood vessels and to monitor fluid in the lungs.
Ultrasound generates images of the moving heart. It helps to monitor heart function.
A liquid dye is injected into the blood vessels to check for any arterial blockage.
These heart imaging tests are done to create images of the heart and chest and help to diagnose any heart problems.
Managing myocardial infarction at a hospital is very crucial. With every minute of damage to the heart muscle, the condition deteriorates and can be life-threatening.
Heart attack medications include-
Coronary angioplasty and stenting -
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) -
CABG involves bypass of the blocked or narrowed artery with a portion of a healthy blood vessel.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs involve —
Cardiac patients should participate in this rehabilitation program. Patients who attend cardiac rehabilitation programs after an acute myocardial infarction generally stay healthy for a long period of time and are less likely to suffer another heart attack or heart attack complications.
Follow the below-given precautions to avoid any cardiac problems -
Stay away from smoking and second-hand smoke to improve your heart health.
By controlling BP and cholesterol levels, the strain on the heart and plaque accumulation can be prevented. These lifestyle changes can greatly help to avoid acute myocardial infarction.
Timely health check-ups can detect heart blockages and prevent heart attacks.
Regular physical activities help to improve heart muscle function. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts pressure on your heart and can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Eat a healthy diet with less salt to avoid heart conditions.Control diabetes - Keep your blood sugar levels in check. Do regular exercises, take medications and proper diet to stay healthy.
Participate in activities which can reduce your stress levels, such as yoga classes, sports, family time, etc.
Limit your alcohol consumption or if possible avoid it to keep heart problems at bay.
There are concerns about having sex after a myocardial infarction (heart attack), but it is safe to return to sexual activity after recovery. Resuming your sex life will depend on your emotional level, physical comfort and previous sexual activity. Ask your healthcare provider when it's safe to have sex.
Heart care requires a lot of precautions and knowledge to take enough preventive measures. Things to do and things to avoid matter a lot during and after a heart attack.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Call the doctor | Ignore heart attack symptoms |
| Ask someone to take you to the hospital | Wait for someone to arrive to take you to the hospital |
| Loosen tight clothing | Wait to see if the symptoms disappear on their own |
| Chew and swallow an aspirin | Take public transport to go to the hospital |
| Take prescribed nitroglycerin | Kill time in getting ready for the hospital |
| Take deep breathings and stay calm | Panic and get stressed |
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Be stress-free | Stress trigger factors |
| Do basic exercises | Smoke or consume alcohol |
| Regular health check-ups | Skip your medications |
| Eat a healthy diet | Eat junk foods and gain weight |
| Maintain healthy weight | Engage in vigourous physical activities |
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Regular exercise | Consume alcohol |
| Eat healthy diet | Eat fatty foods |
| Control diabetes | Follow sedentary lifestyle |
| Maintain healthy weight | Use tobacco products |
| Regular medical checkups | Take stress |
We can lead a healthy lifestyle if we follow the do’s and don’ts of myocardial infarction (heart attack). They can give us some necessary precautionary coverage against myocardial infarction and related conditions.
At Medicover Hospitals, we have the most trusted team of cardiologists and interventional cardiologists working together to provide excellent healthcare to our patients. Our dedicated cardiac team, including cardiologists, cardio surgeons, electrophysiologists, trained nurses and other paramedical staff, offer the best cardiac treatment for a range of cardiovascular problems. We use advanced medical technology for cardiovascular procedures and treatments for various heart disorders and ailments.
