Your arteries play a crucial role in supplying not only essential nutrients to other body parts but also to the heart. It can be worrying when blood flow is abruptly cut off to your heart, which is the chief pump. This can be caused by a deadly condition known as acute myocardial infarction. It occurs when the blood supply to your heart stops due to blockage in the vessels. To spot myocardial infarction forest hills early on, it is important to get knowledge from specialists and know all about it. This guide imparts you with the essential prep knowledge you need when speaking to an expert.
What causes myocardial infarction?
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when the heart tissues do not receive enough oxygen due to blood flow blockage, and the heart tissues begin to die. Usually, this happens when the arteries supplying blood to the heart are blocked. A plague or sticky substance is the major culprit of a heart attack. Plaque buildup is called arteriosclerosis and can occur because of many reasons, including being obese and having high cholesterol levels.
Other cardiovascular conditions such as pulmonary embolism, anomalous coronary artery, and coronary artery spasm may also cause myocardial infarction. Infections such as COVID-19 or trauma to your arteries may also block blood flow to your heart tissues and put you at risk of a heart attack.
Symptoms of a heart attack
A heart attack occurs when the myocardial infarction has become acute. Some people may have severe, mild, or even non-existent symptoms. Generally, you should visit a cardiovascular center if you have nausea, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, or heartburn.
Symptoms usually manifest weeks or days in advance of a heart attack. However, some people have sudden heart attacks. It is important to get checked whenever you feel chest pains that don’t go away with rest.
What does an acute myocardial infarction attack feel like?
When a heart attack occurs, the blood ceases to flow to parts of your heart which causes death to the heart muscles and tissues. The dying tissues can no longer pump blood to the rest of the body and disrupts the usual pumping rhythm. When this happens, it can be deadly if not rectified.
Risk factors for a heart attack
Inherited or acquired risk factors aggravate myocardial infarction and can lead to fatal heart attacks. The risks include high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, type 1 diabetes, age, and inherited levels of high LDL cholesterol. Generally, as you age, your blood vessel functions deteriorate and put you at risk of acute myocardial infarction. Women in their menopause are usually at risk compared to their male counterparts.
When to see a doctor
The best time to see a doctor is when you recognize any symptom of a myocardial infarction. However, if you haven’t spotted all of your symptoms or have had severe ones, you may take aspirin to reduce blood clotting and be prescribed nitroglycerin. You should always have an emergency responder on speed dial if your family has a history of heart attacks or you have spotted a symptom. Some drugs, such as aspirin, react with other medications you may be on. It is essential to call for emergency help first before self-treating yourself.
Myocardial infarction can progress to be acute. Risk factors such as high blood pressure, type 1 diabetes, previous heart disease, high levels of LDL cholesterol, and menopause symptoms may aggravate myocardial infarction. To prevent a sudden heart attack, getting regular checkups and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital. However, if you have symptoms of myocardial infarction, you can receive comprehensive care from cardiologists at Advanced Medical Care center to improve your health today.
