This document discusses myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack. An MI occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen-rich blood. This can cause damage or death of heart muscle. Major risk factors for an MI include atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. An MI is diagnosed through electrocardiograms (EKGs), which can show changes in the heart's electrical activity, and blood tests. Treatment focuses on opening blocked arteries through medications or procedures, preventing abnormal heart rhythms, and giving oxygen. Making lifestyle changes can help prevent MIs by lowering risk factors like quitting smoking, eating healthy, and managing stress.

1. Myocardial
Infarction
Heart Attack

2. 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?)

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Etiology (cont’d)

6. Patho-physiology
(disease process )
1. Atherosclerosis:
Which is a gradual
process of plaques or
collections of
cholesterol are
deposited in the artery
walls.
Artery
Wall
Fatty
Deposits
of plaque
Endothelium
(Inner artery
wall lining)
Cross Section of Artery
With Atherosclerosis

7. Patho-physiology
(cont’d)
2. Angina
This is chest pain
that occurs when the
blood & oxygen supply
to the heart muscle
cannot keep up with the
needs of the heart
muscle.
plaque
Artery wall
endothelium

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. FYI
 About 160,440 people die
each year from a heart
attack.

12. Management (Diagnosis)
(cont’d)
 (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.
Upside
down ST
Segment
Post Myocardial Infarction
Post Myocardial Infarction

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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