Heart disease

Acute myocardial infarction

( Updated at 29/01/2024 )

3 minutes of reading

What is an acute myocardial infarction?

Acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when one of the arteries of the heart becomes clogged by a clot, which causes a part of the heart muscle to stop working due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

What is the myocardium?

The myocardium is the heart muscle responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body. For it to work properly, it needs the blood that the coronary arteries supply to it.

How does acute myocardial infarction manifest itself?

Severe and severe chest pain is the most common symptom, but acute myocardial infarction may be accompanied by other signs such as:

abdominal pain, which can extend to the arms, back, and jaw
nausea and vomiting
Sweats
shortness of breath
Dizziness

Symptoms usually last more than 20 minutes, but they can also be intermittent. They can occur suddenly or gradually over several minutes.

If I suspect I'm having a heart attack, what should I do?

If you experience any of the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction, you should contact 112 immediately or ask someone for help to do so. Medical care is essential, as the less time that passes, the greater the possibility of recovery.

What are the risk factors for an acute myocardial infarction?

The main risk factors for an acute myocardial infarction are:

smoking
High cholesterol
diabetes
high blood pressure
overweight
Sedentary lifestyle
stress
age (prevalence of acute myocardial infarction increases with age)

Every year more than 10,000 Portuguese suffer an acute myocardial infarction.

How is acute myocardial infarction diagnosed?

Acute myocardial infarction is diagnosed by an electrocardiogram and blood tests. If you suspect an acute myocardial infarction, you should contact 112, which will refer you to a hospital unit with the capacity to perform these exams.

Who is most vulnerable to suffering an acute myocardial infarction?

There are several risk factors for acute myocardial infarction:

men over 50 years of age and women over 60 years of age
Diabetics
hypertensive
people with high cholesterol, particularly if they are not well controlled
smokers
Those who have already had an acute myocardial infarction are also at a higher risk of suffering a new acute myocardial infarction

Can genetics influence the onset of a heart attack?

Genetics can also influence the onset of a myocardial infarction, since those who have a history of heart attack in the family are also at greater risk of suffering a heart attack.

Is it possible to prevent a heart attack?

Heart attack can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and controlling risk factors:

quit smoking
Strict control of the feed
Physical exercise
Display the recommended values of:
- blood pressure
- cholesterol
- Glucose

What is the treatment for acute myocardial infarction?

The most effective treatment consists of unblocking the coronary artery responsible for the infarction, through primary angioplasty (using cardiac catheterization). Alternatively, drugs that are able to dissolve the clot may be administered.
When diagnosis and treatment are timely, it is possible to save the myocardium and minimize the complications of infarction.

What sequelae can an acute myocardial infarction leave?

If there is a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction, an important part of the myocardium may die. Thus, the heart may lose some ability to pump blood, so the patient may suffer from heart failure, with the limitations that result therefrom, namely: