Acute Myocardial Infarction: Early Symptoms, Tests, Surgery, Treatment, and Aftereffects

I will summarize the initial symptoms, examination code, surgery, treatment, and aftereffects of acute myocardial infarction. Acute myocardial infarction can strike suddenly and unexpectedly. Please refer to the information below regarding acute myocardial infarction and I hope for your speedy recovery.

What is Acute Myocardial Infarction?

Acute myocardial infarction occurs when a heart's blood vessel is blocked, temporarily or permanently cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. This is usually caused by arterial stenosis, and the heart muscle is damaged due to the narrowed artery or a blood clot inside the blood vessel.

Acute myocardial infarction is often referred to as a "heart attack" or "heart attack episode" and causes symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, and dizziness. If these symptoms occur, emergency measures must be taken immediately, and the accuracy and speed of treatment are very important. Acute myocardial infarction can lead to chronic heart disease, so early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are necessary.

Initial Symptoms

The following symptoms may appear in the initial stages of acute myocardial infarction.

Chest Pain

This is the most common symptom, characterized by sudden, severe pain in the center or left side of the chest. The pain can feel like heaviness, pressure, or a stabbing sensation.

Shortness of Breath

Chest pain can make breathing difficult. This shortness of breath can be more severe in older adults or individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma.

Anxiety and Fear

Chest pain caused by acute myocardial infarction can be accompanied by anxiety, fear, and panic.

Nausea and Vomiting

Severe chest pain from acute myocardial infarction can lead to nausea and vomiting.

Sweating

Stress caused by acute myocardial infarction can also cause excessive sweating. If you experience symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction, you should immediately visit the emergency room for treatment.

Examination

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) examinations are conducted to assess the heart health of patients experiencing severe chest pain or anxiety.

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

This test measures the electrical activity of the heart to detect signs of myocardial infarction. If a patient suspected of having a myocardial infarction undergoes an ECG and abnormalities are found, further tests, such as blood tests, echocardiograms, or cardiac imaging tests, may be performed.

Blood Test

During myocardial infarction, heart muscle damage causes substances like degraded hemoglobin to be released into the blood at high levels. By measuring the concentration of free oxygen in the blood, myocardial infarction can be diagnosed.

Echocardiogram

It measures the structure and function of the heart using sound waves. This test can determine if heart function is abnormal due to a myocardial infarction.

Cardiac Imaging Test

It measures how blood is supplied to the heart using radioactive substances. This test can determine the location and extent of the myocardial infarction.

These tests play a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including dietary improvements, exercise, and quitting smoking, is essential for preserving heart health.

Surgery and Treatment

Acute myocardial infarction is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention and treatment. Generally, the treatment of acute myocardial infarction consists of medication and surgical intervention.

Medical treatment often involves the use of thrombolytic agents, antiplatelet agents, and vasodilators to maintain blood flow, minimize heart muscle damage, and improve heart function.

Surgical treatment includes coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which involves inserting a stent into the narrowed artery. CABG is a heart surgery that involves opening the sternum to bypass the narrowed artery by rerouting blood flow through another blood vessel around the heart. PCI involves inserting a stent into the narrowed artery to maintain blood flow.

After surgical treatment, pain and side effects may occur at the surgical site. Therefore, proper post-operative care is necessary. Furthermore, acute myocardial infarction patients should participate in cardiac rehabilitation programs to maintain heart health by adopting healthy dietary habits, lifestyle, and exercise.

Aftereffects

The aftereffects of acute myocardial infarction are complications that occur after the infarction, resulting from damage to the heart muscle. These symptoms typically occur when the heart muscle tissue has been destroyed or damaged due to the myocardial infarction, often manifesting as chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations.

The symptoms of acute myocardial infarction aftereffects can vary and depend on the severity of the heart muscle damage. Generally, the symptoms can be more severe if the heart muscle damage is extensive.

These symptoms typically appear within 1-2 weeks after the myocardial infarction and mostly improve within 3 months. However, some patients may experience persistent symptoms.

Treatment for acute myocardial infarction aftereffects is often similar to the initial treatment of myocardial infarction. Specifically, thrombolytic agents, vasodilators, and antiplatelet agents may be administered. In addition, various treatment methods, such as cardiac rehabilitation therapy and surgical interventions, can be applied.

To prevent acute myocardial infarction aftereffects, it is important to manage risk factors for myocardial infarction and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This involves quitting smoking, maintaining a proper diet and exercise routine, and preventing and treating underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.