Imena Alexander

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (HEART ATTACK)

Is there a doctor in the house? This man/woman is having a myocardial infarction! The medical term may stump many but we have all heard of a heart attack. Heart attack. Literally, there is an attack on the heart’s muscles. A fatal attack. The heart’s muscles die. Myocardial Infarction (MI) commonly known as a heart attack is the irreversible death of heart muscle secondary to prolonged lack of oxygen supply. MI is usually caused by a blood clot, which stops the blood flowing to a part of your heart muscle. The special muscles that make up the heart are known as myocardium. Like any other muscle, the heart needs a good blood supply. The heart’s muscles rely on the coronary arteries for their blood supply. The main coronary artery branches from the aorta and divides into smaller branches which take blood to all parts of the heart muscle.

Figure 1.1 Diagram of heart showing Coronary Arteries

MI occurs if the coronary arteries are obstructed from doing their very important job. If the main coronary artery or any of its smaller branches is blocked, the part of the heart muscle depending on that blood (and oxygen) supply is at risk of dying unless the blockage is removed quickly. When a part of the heart muscle is damaged it is said to be infarcted, thus the term Myocardial Infarction (MI).The most common cause of MI is a blood clot (thrombosis) that forms inside a coronary artery or one of its branches. This blocks the blood flow to a part of the heart.

Figure 1.2 Diagram showing normal blood flow and Thrombosis

 

Various other uncommon conditions can block a coronary artery - for example:

·         Inflammation of the coronary arteries (rare).

·         A stab wound to the heart.

·         A blood clot forming elsewhere in the body (for example, in a heart chamber) and travelling to a coronary artery where it gets stuck.

·         Taking cocaine, which can cause a coronary artery to go into spasm.

·         Complications from heart surgery.

Myocardial Infarction is very common and affects both the young and the old. Some factors however increase one’s risk of suffering from a heart attack. Look at the following and do what you must to be less at risk.

•        Smoking. If you smoke, you should make every effort to stop.
•        High blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high it can be treated.
•        Being overweight. Losing some weight is advised. Losing weight will reduce the amount of workload on your heart and also help to lower your blood pressure.
•        Cholesterol. This should usually be treated if it is high.
•        Inactivity. You should aim to do some moderate physical activity on most days of the week for at least 30 minutes - for example, brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing, gardening, etc.
•        Diet. You should aim to eat a healthy diet.
•        Diabetes. People with diabetes have a higher risk of having ACS. This risk can be reduced by ensuring your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar (glucose) levels are well controlled.
•        Family history. Your risk is increased if there is a family history of heart disease or a stroke that occurred in your father or brother aged below 55, or in your mother or sister aged below 65.

 Since MI is very common both in young and old people, it is important to know the signs and symptoms.

Figure 1.3 Diagram showing signs and symptoms of MI (heart attack)

The sooner a heart attack is diagnosed, the better for treatment to work.

Figure 1.4 Treatments for MI.