HEART ATTACK (MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION)

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. Coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply the heart muscles with blood and oxygen, blockage of coronary artery deprives the heart muscle of blood and oxygen causing injury to the heart muscle.
CAUSES: A heart attack usually happens when a blood clot develops in one of the blood vessels that lead to the heart muscle. The clot, if it is big enough, can stop the supply of blood to the heart. Blood supply to the heart can also be undermined if the artery suddenly narrows.
SYMPTOMS: these may include 1. CHEST DISCOMFORT, MILD PAIN, DIZZINESS, COUGHING, DYSPNOES (shortness of breath), CRUSHING CHEST PAIN, A FEELING OF TERROR, NAUSEA, RESTLESSNESS, CLAMMY AND SWEATING, VOMITING, CHEST PAIN SPREADING TO THE JAWS, EARS, ARMS WRIST, SHOULDER BLADES, THE BACK AND THE ABDOMEN. RISK FACTORS: Heart attack is most commonly caused by narrowing of the arteries by cholesterol plague and their subsequent rupture. These risk factors include: CIGARETTE SMOKING, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES. Cause of heart attack may include COCAINE USE, PRINZMETAL ANGINA OR CORONARY ARTERY VASOSPASM, ANOMALOUS CORONARY ARTERY, INADEQUATE OXYGENATION wchich may be due to profound anemia, respiratory failure, carbon-monoxide poisoning or cyanide poisoning. DIAGNOSIS: MEDICAL HISTORY, PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG), BLOOD TESTS. When heart muscles become irritated, it may leak chemicals that can be measured in the blood, levels of cardiac enzymes myoglobin, CPK and troponin are often measured alone or in combination to assess whether the heart damages has occurred. CHEST X-RAY, ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, CT SCAN OR HEART CATHERIZATION are also included.