Myocardial_Infarction_A.K.A.___the_Heart_Attack

“Myocardial Infarction: a.k.a. The Heart Attack” Nick Morey Disease Conditions 242 10-3-2007 Myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack, is a condition that occurs in both men and women when the blood supply to the heart is disrupted. The heart attack, as well as many other conditions, has signs and symptoms that lead up to the occurrence of one. There are tests that the appropriate medical physician can perform to confirm that a heart attack did happen. There are treatments that a patient can go through in order to get back on their feet after this situation has come about. Prognosis and prevention of this condition are also part of the post-heart attack process. The term myocardial infarction is obtained from myocardium, which means heart muscle, and infarction, which means tissue death due to oxygen starvation (Wikipedia). The lack of blood supply to the heart causes the muscle tissue to die. One of the most frequent causes is the plaque buildup in the epicardial coronary artery, which leads to clotting. This could result in partial or complete occlusion of the vessels. Total occlusion of the vessels for more than four to six hours can cause irreversible myocardial necrosis (emedicine). Other influences of this disease include obesity, aging, hypertension, heredity, elevated serum triglycerides, cholesterol levels, and low-density lipoprotein levels. Smoking, diabetes, an inactive lifestyle, chronic stress, and certain types of behavior are also causes of having a heart attack. When knowing what it is that causes a heart attack it allows people to notice any signs or symptoms they may be experiencing. Symptoms of a heart attack are usually gradual, over a period of several minutes, and are rarely immediate. The most common symptom is chest pain. Many people experiencing this pain describe it as tightness, pressure, or squeezing of the chest. Chest pain is caused by the lack of blood to the heart which in turn is the lack of oxygen to the heart. Other symptoms that may occur prior to a heart attack include shortness of breath, excessive sweating, weakness, becoming light-headed, nausea, and vomiting. The signs and symptoms don’t affect a wide range of body parts. They generally affect the chest. Sometimes patients say they had discomfort in their jaw, neck, shoulders, left arm, occasionally the right arm, upper stomach, and sometimes in the upper back. Physicians will do various testing to confirm the disease. There are two basic kinds of tests that physicians will conduct and they are: laboratory tests and imaging tests. The lab tests that are conducted are blood tests looking at troponin, creatine, myoglobin levels, CBC, chemical profile, and ESR. The imaging tests include chest radiography, echocardiogram thallium scanning, MRI, and another common imaging test is the ECG. The first and most common diagnostic test that is performed is an ECG, electrocardiography, unless this occurs in a younger person because they are disproportionately represented. After a heart attack has occurred in a patient they will run tests and then almost immediately start treatments. When someone has a heart attack they must be hospitalized to help relieve pain, stabilize heart rhythm, reduce heart workload, and preserve as much heart tissue as possible (Diseases of the Human Body). A heart monitor will be in effect in order to closely observe the rhythm of the heart. Aspirin, Heparin, Enoxaparin, Nitroglycerin, Metroprolol, and Alteplase are universal drugs that are administered to patients in hospital care to help stabilize the patient. Prognosis depends on the individual experiencing a heart attack and also depends on the extent of the damage that has been done. Many of sudden deaths due to MI are because hospitalization is delayed. Activity by the patient is increased over their stay at the hospital and that stay usually last at least three days before they are discharged home. Rehabilitation usually lasts months after they are released from the hospital. If your family past has a history of MI, then you should talk to your doctor about ways to help prevent this from happening to you. Staying active helps keep your heart muscle strong. Avoiding food with high cholesterol also help in prevention. Smoking, obesity, stress, and increased blood pressure are also other factors that should be looked at when trying to prepare you for not having a heart attack. Retaining a healthy lifestyle help keep you on the right track for success. Myocardial Infarction is a serious, but preventable disease. A heart attack can occur in anyone, but is less likely to occur if you know what a heart attack really is, and how to prevent it or how to deal with one if it does happen to you. Bibliography Carol D. Tamparo, M. A. (2005). Diseases of the Human Body. Philidelphia: F. A. Davis Company. Drew E. Fenton, M. (2007, September 10). Myocardial Infarction. Retrieved October 2007, from Emedicine: http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic327.htm Myocardial Infarction. (2007, October). Retrieved October 2007, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myocardial_infarction