A Site Dedicated to Students
Myocardial Infarction
Definition
Ischaemic necrosis of the heart muscle. Synonym : Heart attack
Cause and Pathogenesis
Interruption of the blood supply to a part of the heart
Commonly due to occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery
Following the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque
(which is an unstable collection of lipids like cholesterol) and white blood cells (especially macrophages) in the wall of an artery.
The resulting ischemia and oxygen shortage cause damage and/or death (infarction) of (myocardium).
Clinical Features
Sudden chest pain
May radiate to the left arm or left side of the neck
Dyspnoea
Nausea, vomiting
Palpitations, sweating, and anxiety
A sense of impending death.
Weakness
A feeling of indigestion and fatigue.
25% of all myocardial infarctions are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms
