Acute myocardial infarction is another name that is used in medicine to refer to a heart attack. A heart attack is a condition which is life-threatening to humans, and it happens when the flow of blood to the muscles of the heart is cut off abruptly leading to the damage of tissue. The abrupt cut off of blood is as a result of a blockage in coronary arteries. The obstruction is caused by plaque buildup. Plaque is a substance composed of cellular waste products, cholesterol, and fat. The death of myocardial tissue which is the primary cause of heart attack is the leading cause of increased mortality and morbidity in most countries. The paper describes the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction.

Symptoms of acute myocardial infarction

The symptoms vary, but majorly the common symptoms of heart attack encompass chest pain and shortness of breath. Always the patient experiences pressure in the chest, back jaw and other parts of the upper body which is consistent.  The affected person sweats most of the time, vomits, and coughs and experiences an increased heart rate. Not everyone who is having heart attack experiences similar symptoms or the same level of severity of the symptoms (Andersson, Lawesson, Karlsson, Nilsson & Thylén, 2018). The most commonly reported sign is chest pain among both male and females. Sometimes women are at high chances of experiencing upper back pain, nausea, vomiting, and shortness in breath and jaw pain. Women who have been affected by heart attack have reported symptoms synonymous to the one for flu.

Causes of acute myocardial infarction

The heart is the primary organ in the cardiovascular system apart from the other components like the different types of blood vessels. The major blood vessels are arteries which transports blood rich in oxygen to all the organs in the body.  The coronary artery carries blood rich in oxygen to the muscle of the heart (Noor, Adnan, Ali, Dar, Uddin, Ahmad, Hafizullah, 2017). During the circumstances when the coronary artery is blocked or reduces in size due to the buildup in plaque, the blood movement into the heart stops abruptly or decreases. The blockage accompanied with reduction  or a stop in the blood flow causes a heart attack. Other factors such as trans-fat, bad cholesterol and saturated fats are also associated with heart attack.

Bad cholesterol is one of the most common causes of blockage in the arteries. Cholesterol is a substance which is colorless and is a component of the food that we eat. Cholesterol can also be made naturally by the body. Certain cholesterols might be safe for the body except for the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which can attach themselves to the walls of the arteries and releases plaque. Plaque blocks the flow of blood in the arteries, and blood platelets attach themselves to the plaque to build up with time (Noor, Adnan, Ali, Dar, Uddin, Ahmad, Hafizullah, 2017).  Saturated fats are common in dairy and meat products, including cheese, beef, and butter.  The fats result in the artery blockage through increasing the level of bad cholesterol in the blood system and hence decreasing the amount of good cholesterol. There is also Trans-fat or hydrogenated fats which result in clogged arteries. Trans-fat is produced artificially and can be found in numerous types of foods.

Risk factors

There certain factors which can increase the chances of an individual developing heart attack. Those individuals who have high blood pressure are at a greater risk of experiencing a heart attack.  Usually, the average pressure of the blood is 120/80 mm Hg, and this is dependent on the age of a person. With an increase in the numbers, individual chances of developing a heart attack also increase (Andersson, Lawesson, Karlsson, Nilsson & Thylén, 2018). The primary cause of artery damage is due to high blood pressure which escalates the buildup of plaque. Another factor that places a person at a higher risk of developing heart attack is high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is imperative that every person learn how to decrease the amount of cholesterol by making significant changes in the diet or by taking statins which is a recommended medication. High level of triglyceride also increases the chances of acquiring heart attack. The triglyceride is fat which clog in the arteries. When triglyceride in consumed in our foods, it moves through the blood to be stored in the fat cells.

Certain triglyceride can remain in the arteries and result in plaque building up. Diabetes and high levels of sugar in the blood ravages the blood vessels and ultimately leading to the disease of the coronary artery. Coronary artery disease is a severe disease which contributes to heart attacks in certain individuals.  The chances of an individual having heart attack is increased when the person is overweight or obese. Obesity in a person is accompanied by other conditions which makes one more susceptible to heart attack. The conditions comprises of high triglyceride levels, increased pressure of the blood, diabetes and increase in the level of cholesterol. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of heart attack and can also contribute to cardiovascular diseases and conditions. After the age of 45, men are at a greater risk of developing heart attack while women are at higher risk at the age of 55 (Masclee, Straatman, Arfè, Castellsague, Garbe,  Herings, Sturkenboom, 2018). Those who have a family history of an early heart attack are likely to have heart attack and the chances are higher with history in male family members who developed the condition before the age of 55 and females who developed before 65.  Some other reported factors that increase the risk of getting heart attack encompass stress, history of preeclampsia, high blood pressure during pregnancy, the use of cocaine which is an illegal drug and lack of physical exercise.

Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

To determine whether an individual has developed a heart attack, the doctor pays attention to your heart to examine abnormalities as the heart is beating.  Measuring the blood pressure is also another method of diagnosis (Noor, Adnan, Ali, Dar, Uddin, Ahmad, Hafizullah, 2017). Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a technique which is performed to check the electrical activity of the heart. The proteins which are linked with damage of the heart like the troponin can be investigated by applying blood tests. Other tests for diagnosis that can be done include a stress test to check the response of the heart to exercise. An angiogram is used to examine blockage areas in the arteries. An echocardiogram is important in the identification of areas of the heart that are not working effectively.

Treatment of acute myocardial infarction

Immediate treatment is necessary for people with heart attack and this implies that several treatments for heart attack begin at the emergency room. Angioplasty which is a meager invasive process is applied to unblock the arteries that provide blood into the heart. During the process, a surgeon inserts a catheter through the artery into the blockage. After the insertion, the surgeon inflates a small balloon which is attached to the catheter to reopen the artery and allow the blood to flow once again (Masclee, Straatman, Arfè, Castellsague, Garbe,  Herings, Sturkenboom, 2018). Stent can be inserted at the side of the artery to prevent the artery from closing again. In certain cases the doctor can also decide to perform a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) where another route is provided for the veins and the arteries to permit the blood to flow around the blockage. A CABG is mostly performed after several days from the day of the incident so that the heart gets enough time to heal. Sometimes a CABG can be carried out immediately after heart attack.

Prevention of acute myocardial infarction

The most preferred way to reduce the chances of developing a heart attack is through eating a heart-healthy diet. The diet should be composed of lean protein, vegetables, whole grains and fruits (Andersson, Lawesson, Karlsson, Nilsson & Thylén, 2018). At the same time reducing the amount of sugar, Trans fat, saturated fat and sugar in the body is important in reducing the risk of acquiring heart attack. Regular exercise enhances the cardiovascular health but in case you experience a recent heart attack, you should seek assistance from the doctor before beginning a new exercise plan. Smoking is dangerous and people are advised to stop smoking since quitting lower the chances of heart attack and improve the health of the heart and lungs.

In conclusion, acute myocardial infarction is another name of heart attack as identified by medical professionals. The condition takes place when the flow of blood into the coronary artery is blocked through the build of plaque. The most common symptoms of heart attack are chest pain and shortness in breath. The blockage of the coronary artery results to the decrease in the flow of blood or stoppage in the blood flow hence blood does not reach the different parts of the body. Herat attack can be treated by doctors and since it is a severe condition treatment often begins at the emergency room. Prevention is better than cure and the best way to prevent heart attack is through regular exercising and eating heart-healthy foods with low levels of bad cholesterol and other dangerous substances.

 
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