Myocardial infarction

Article: • • • • • Images: • Epidemiology Risk factors • male > females • age • >45 years for males • >55 years for females • cardiovascular risk factors: smoking, • positive family history: a history of a first-degree male relative (i.e. brother, father, son) with MI III • leads III and aVL both elevated (usually show reciprocity) • reciprocal ST-segment depression in lead aVR • proximal • usually produces an "inferior MI" pattern, with ST-segment elevation in limb leads II, III, and aVF • reciprocal ST-segment depression in lead I and aVL • associated right ventricular MI denoted by elevation of the ST segment in III>II and V1>V2 • associated posterior MI pattern has tall right (V1-3) precordial R waves with horizontal ST depression and tall, upright T waves • • usually produces a "high lateral wall MI" pattern, with ST-segment elevation in limb leads I and aVL • reciprocal ST-segment depression in lead III Pathology 12: • ischemic imbalance (i.e. myocardial oxygen supply/demand imbalance) • in critically-ill patients or in the setting of major (non-cardiac) surgery • vasospasm • iatrogenic, e.g. during revascularization procedures Types The most commonly used method of classification is as follows: • type I: spontaneous MI related to ischemia from a primary coronary event (e.g., plaque rupture, thrombotic occlusion) • type II: secondary to ischemia from a supply-and-demand mismatch (e.g. • type III: MI resulting in sudden cardiac death • type IV: • type IVa: is an MI a...

Who is more likely to get a heart attack, and how can you reduce the odds that you’ll have a heart attack? Every moment the muscle is denied blood, the likelihood of long-term damage to the heart increases. The following facts and statistics can help you: • learn more about the condition • estimate your risk level • recognize the warning signs of a heart attack 1. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the cause of the majority of heart attacks. CAD is caused by plaque buildup (made of cholesterol deposits and inflammation) in the wall of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time, which can block blood flow. Or, the cholesterol deposits can spill into the artery and cause a blood clot. It’s the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. This includes: • African American • American Indian • Alaska Native • Hispanic • white men Heart disease is second only to cancer for women from the Pacific Islands and Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Hispanic women. High blood pressure occurs when the pressure of the blood in your arteries and other blood vessels is too high and can cause the arteries to stiffen. You can lower your blood pressure with lifestyle changes like reducing sodium intake or taking medication to reduce your risk for heart disease and heart attack. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic r...

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) • • • • • • What is a Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)? A heart attack occurs when one of the heart's coronary arteries is blocked suddenly or has extremely slow blood flow. A heart attack also is called a myocardial infarction. The usual cause of sudden blockage in a coronary artery is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus). The blood clot typically forms inside a coronary artery that already has been narrowed by atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty deposits (plaques) build up along the inside walls of blood vessels. Slow blood flow in a coronary artery can happen when the heart is beating very fast or the person has low blood pressure. If the demand for oxygen is greater than the supply, a heart attack can happen without formation of a blood clot. People with atherosclerosis are also more likely to have this reason for a heart attack. Each coronary artery supplies blood to a specific part of the heart's muscular wall, so a blocked artery causes pain and malfunction in the area it supplies. Depending on the location and amount of heart muscle involved, this malfunction can seriously interfere with the heart's ability to pump blood. Also, some of the coronary arteries supply areas of the heart that regulate heartbeat, so a blockage sometimes causes potentially fatal abnormal heartbeats, called cardiac arrhythmias. The pattern of symptoms that develops with each heart attack and the chances of survival are linked to the loca...

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. Causes of a Heart Attack The blockage is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries ( 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 (or genetic) Acquired Inherited or genetic risk factors are risk factors you are born with that cannot be changed, but can be improved with medical management and lifestyle changes. Acquired risk factors are caused by activities that we choose to include in our lives that can be managed through lifestyle changes and clinical care. Inherited (genetic) factors: Who is most at risk? These groups are most at risk: • People with inherited • People with inherited low levels of HDL cholesterol, high levels of LDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides • People with a family history of heart disease. This is especially true if the heart disease started before age 55. • Older men and women • People with type 1 • Women who have gone through menopause. Generally, men are at risk at a younger age than women. After menopause, women are equally at risk. Acquired risk facto...