A heart attack is a big problem. It happens when blood cannot get to the heart. This can make the heart feel sick. It can hurt the chest. Doctors work fast to help. Do you know how your heart works?
A heart attack is a big problem. It happens when blood cannot get to the heart. This can make the heart muscle sick.
Most of the time, this happens because a tube in the heart gets blocked. This stops the blood from moving through.
A person might feel pain in their chest. This pain can move to their arm or jaw. Some people feel tired or sick instead.
Doctors use special tests to help. They can use a tiny tool to open the blocked tube.
It is important to get help fast. Doctors work hard to keep the heart healthy.
A myocardial infarction is the medical name for a heart attack.
This happens when blood flow to the heart stops or slows down. This can cause the heart muscle to die. This type of damage is called an infarction.
Most heart attacks happen because of coronary artery disease. This means the tubes that carry blood to the heart get blocked. Often, a small buildup in the tube breaks and blocks it. Sometimes, the tubes can also squeeze shut. This is called a coronary artery spasm.
Many people feel chest pain during a heart attack. The pain can feel like pressure or squeezing. It might move to the jaw, neck, or left arm.
Women often have different signs. They might feel tired, sick, or have neck pain instead. Some people have no signs at all. These are called silent heart attacks.
Doctors use an ECG to check the heart's electrical activity. They may use a stent to keep an artery open. A stent is a tiny tube that holds the path open.
Getting help fast is very important.
A myocardial infarction is the medical name for a heart attack.
This happens when blood flow to the heart muscle slows or stops. Without blood, the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen. This lack of oxygen causes a part of the muscle to die. This process is called an infarction. It is a dangerous part of acute coronary syndrome. This term describes sudden changes in blood flow to the heart.
Most heart attacks happen because of coronary artery disease. This disease affects the tubes that carry blood to the heart. Often, a small buildup called a plaque forms in the artery. If this plaque ruptures, it can cause a complete blockage. This blockage stops the blood from moving through. Sometimes, the arteries can also squeeze shut. This is called a coronary artery spasm. These spasms can be caused by extreme cold or great stress.
Many people feel chest pain during a heart attack. The pain can feel like tightness, pressure, or squeezing. It often moves to the left arm, shoulder, or jaw.
Some people feel it like heartburn or anxiety. Women often have different symptoms than men. They might feel tired, nauseated, or have neck pain. Some people have no symptoms at all. These are called silent myocardial infarctions. They can happen to people with diabetes or the elderly.
Doctors use special tests to find a heart attack. An ECG is a tool that records the heart's electrical activity. It can show if a person has a STEMI. This is a type of heart attack with specific electrical changes.
Doctors also use blood tests to look for a protein called troponin. This protein shows if heart cells have died. If an artery is blocked, doctors may use a stent. A stent is a tiny tube used to keep the artery open.
Heart attacks are a major health issue around the world. In 2015, about 15.9 million people had a myocardial infarction. In the United States, about one million people have them each year. Many things can change the risk of a heart attack. Smoking and high blood pressure are big risk factors. Lack of exercise and a poor diet also matter. Many of these risks can be changed with a healthy lifestyle. People often take medicines like aspirin to stay safe.
A myocardial infarction (MI) is the medical term for what is commonly called a heart attack.
This condition is a dangerous type of acute coronary syndrome. Acute coronary syndrome describes sudden changes in blood flow to the heart. An MI occurs when blood flow decreases or stops in a coronary artery. This lack of oxygen delivery to the heart muscle is called ischemia. When the muscle cells do not receive oxygen, they die. This tissue death is known as an infarction.
The most common cause of an MI is coronary artery disease. In this condition, buildup forms inside the arteries. A common mechanism involves the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. This plaque is a buildup of material in the artery wall. When the plaque ruptures, it can cause a complete blockage of the artery. Less commonly, a coronary artery spasm can cause an MI. A spasm is a sudden squeezing of the artery. These spasms can be triggered by extreme cold or significant emotional stress. This specific stress-related condition is sometimes called Takotsubo syndrome, or broken heart syndrome.
Doctors classify MIs into different types based on an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. One type is called an ST elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI. This is identified when specific changes appear on the ECG. Another type is the non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, or NSTEMI. The distinction is important for how doctors treat the patient. While both involve heart muscle damage, the electrical patterns differ.
Symptoms of an MI can vary greatly between people. The most common sign is retrosternal chest pain. This pain often feels like tightness, pressure, or squeezing. It can radiate to the left shoulder, arm, or jaw. Some people describe the sensation as heartburn or anxiety. About 30% of people experience atypical symptoms. Women are more likely to have these unusual symptoms. They may feel nausea, fatigue, or pain in the neck and back. Some people experience a "silent" MI. This means they have little or no history of symptoms.
Medical professionals use several tools to diagnose an MI. They use blood tests to look for specific biomarkers. One important protein is called troponin. The presence of troponin in the blood indicates that heart cells have died. Doctors also look for creatine kinase MB. Once an MI is confirmed, treatment must be time-critical. For a STEMI, doctors try to restore blood flow quickly. They may use percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This involves pushing the arteries open, sometimes using a stent. A stent is a tiny tube that holds the artery open.
Other treatments include thrombolysis. This is the use of medication to remove a blockage. For an NSTEMI, doctors might use the blood thinner heparin. If a patient has diabetes or multiple blockages, they may need surgery. This is called coronary artery bypass surgery, or CABG. After the event, patients often take long-term medications. These include aspirin, beta blockers, and statins. Lifestyle changes are also a standard part of recovery.
Myocardial infarctions are a major global health issue. In 2015, approximately 15.9 million MIs occurred worldwide. This included over 3 million STEMIs and 4 million NSTEMIs. In the United States, about one million people have an MI every year. In the developed world, the risk of death from a STEMI is about 10%. In 2011, MIs were one of the five most expensive conditions for hospital stays in the US. The cost was about $11.5 billion for 612,000 stays.
Many factors can increase the risk of an MI. These include high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. Obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise also play roles. Smoking is a major cause, contributing to about 36% of coronary artery disease cases. Genetics also matter. Scientists have found 27 genetic variants associated with an increased risk. Some of these involve genes like PCSK9 and SORT1. Family history is a significant factor for many people.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (6)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.