Myocardial

Infarction
 Outline
 What is an MI (or) Heart
Attack
 What are the causes?
 Patho-physiology (disease
process)
 What are the signs &
symptoms?
 Management of diagnosis
& treatment
(How is it diagnosed & how
is it treated?)
 What is a MI / Heart Attack?
 A heart attack (a.k.a. Myocardial Infarction) is the
death of heart muscle from a sudden blockage of
a coronary artery.
 Blockage of a coronary artery deprives the heart
muscle of blood & oxygen, causing injury to the
heart muscle.
 Etiology (cause)
 Risk factors for developing heart attacks
are:
1. Atherosclerosis
2. Angina
3. HBC (High Blood Cholesterol) A high
level of cholesterol in the blood
4. HBP (High Blood Pressure/Hypertension)
5. Tobacco Use (Smoking)
6. Diabetes
7. Family History of Heart Disease
Etiology (cont’d)
 Patho-physiology
(disease process )
1. Atherosclerosis: Cross Section of Artery
Which is a gradual With Atherosclerosis
process of plaques or Artery
Wall
collections of
cholesterol are
deposited in the artery
walls.
Endothelium Fatty
(Inner artery Deposits
wall lining) of plaque
 Patho-physiology
(cont’d)
2. Angina
This is chest pain
that occurs when the
endothelium
blood & oxygen supply Artery wall
to the heart muscle
plaque
cannot keep up with the
needs of the heart
muscle.
 Signs & Symptoms
 Common symptoms
of atherosclerosis &
angina are:

1. Pressure, heaviness,
squeezing or aching
across the chest.

2. Pain may travel to the

neck, jaw, arms, back,
even teeth, and may
be accompanied by
shortness of breath,
nausea, or cold sweat.
 Signs & Symptoms
(cont’d)
 Angina can also occur
during rest. Angina at
rest more commonly
indicates that a
coronary artery has
been narrowed to a
critical degree. The
heart is NOT
receiving enough
oxygen even at rest.
 Management (Diagnosis)
 Severe chest pain is usually a sign that
a MI or heart attack is occurring, and
tests can be performed that will confirm
the MI.
 When symptoms of a heart attack do not
include chest pain, the heart attack may
not be suspected and appropriate tests
may not be performed.
 The initial step in diagnosing a heart
attack is to be suspicious that one has
occurred.
 FYI
 About 160,440 people die
each year from a heart
attack.
 Management (Diagnosis)
Upside
(cont’d) Post Myocardial Infarction
down ST
Segment

Post Myocardial Infarction

 (Pic #1) The patient clearly has risk factors for
coronary artery disease, symptoms suggestive of
angina and an abnormal ECG.
 (Pic #2) ECG as it appears while patient is having a
MI. During heart attack, notice the atrial & ventricular
spikes.
 (Pic #3) The patient has had a MI.
 Management (Diagnosis)
(cont’d)
 There are different ways to diagnose a
heart attack.

1. Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
2. Blood Tests

 The most important factor in diagnosing

a heart attack is prompt medical attn
 Management (Treatment)
 But, what is an Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)?

1. It is a recording of the electrical activity of the

heart.
2. It can identify the areas of heart muscle that are
deprived of oxygen &/or areas of muscle that
have died.
3. It can also give a secure diagnosis of a heart
attack, it can be made quickly in the ER so
treatment can be started immediately.
 Management (Treatment)
(cont’d)
 How is a heart attack treated?
1. Anti-platelet medications to prevent
formation of blood clots in the arteries.
2. Anti-coagulants to prevent growth of
blood clots in the arteries.
3. Clot- dissolving medications to open
blocked arteries.
4. Medications to prevent abnormal heart
rhythms.
5. Supplemental oxygen to increase the
supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.
 Conclusion
So as we have discussed & learned
what an MI is, how it’s diagnosed &
treated, what will you do to prevent
one or at the least lower your chances
of having one?

We can all do our own part in answering

that question for ourselves.

Thank You