Identifying and managing an AMI begins when the patient first encounters a medical professional. If a patient reports ischemic symptoms (such as pain in the chest, left arm, or jaw; epigastric discomfort; dyspnea; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; and/or syncope), obtain a 12-lead ECG within 10 minutes of arrival.
Full Answer
What are the symptoms of a myocardial infarction?
Most myocardial infarctions produce some chest pain, although occasionally there are no symptoms at all. In some people, the symptoms may come and go, last over several hours, but may be subtle, especially in women. Symptoms of a myocardial infarction can often be mistaken for heartburn.
What should I do if I have a myocardial infarction?
Seek emergency assistance (immediately call 911) if you are having symptoms of a myocardial infarction or you suspect somebody is having a myocardial infarction. Take aspirin is recommended.
How is acute myocardial infarction diagnosed?
How is acute myocardial infarction diagnosed? To determine whether you’ve had a heart attack, your doctor will listen to your heart to check for irregularities in your heartbeat. They may measure your blood pressure as well. Your doctor will also run a number of different tests if they suspect that you’ve had a heart attack.
What is a myocardial infarction or heart attack?
This is known as a myocardial infarction or heart attack. Blockages in the arteries are usually caused by a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances (called a plaque) which narrows the blood vessel. The plaque can break away and form a clot that can block one of the smaller arteries. What are the symptoms of a myocardial infarction?
What treatments can be used for myocardial infarction?
The treatment of MI includes, aspirin tablets, and to dissolve arterial blockage injection of thrombolytic or clot dissolving drugs such as tissue plasminogen activator, streptokinase or urokinase in blood within 3 h of the onset of a heart attack.
How do you Recognise a myocardial infarction?
chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest. pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy. feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
What is the first line treatment for a patient with a myocardial infarction?
The early treatment of acute myocardial infarction consists of ensuring the patient is in an environment in which defibrillation is possible and then reducing the size of the potential infarct by re-opening the occluded coronary artery.
How is myocardial infarction diagnosed and treated?
The ECG remains a cornerstone of MI diagnosis. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a timely manner is the primary treatment of patients with acute ST segment elevation MI. Antiplatelet agents (clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor), in addition to aspirin, reduce patient MI morbidity and mortality.
What are 4 signs of myocardial infarction?
What are the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction?pressure or tightness in the chest.pain in the chest, back, jaw, and other areas of the upper body that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back.shortness of breath.sweating.nausea.vomiting.anxiety.feeling like you're going to faint.More items...
What happens during a myocardial infarction?
Overview. A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when one or more areas of the heart muscle don't get enough oxygen. This happens when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked.
What treatment is indicated in the first 12 hours of myocardial infarction?
Alteplase, reteplase and streptokinase need to be given within 12 hours of symptom onset, ideally within one hour. Tenecteplase should be given as early as possible and usually within six hours of symptom onset. Bleeding complications are the main risks associated with thrombolysis.
What is the classic symptom of myocardial infarction?
Clinical features. The most common presenting symptom of MI is chest pain, which is often described as severe retrosternal chest pain of a crushing or squeezing nature. Other clues to the differential diagnosis of chest pain are that the pain may radiate to the arms (commonly the left arm), shoulders, neck and/or jaw.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Upper back or shoulder pain. Jaw pain or pain spreading to the jaw. Pressure or pain in the center of the chest. Light headedness. Pain that spreads to the arm. Unusual fatigue for several days. If you experience any of these symptoms of a heart attack, call for emergency assistance (911).
How do you know if you have a heart attack?
Symptoms of a heart attack include: 1 Angina: Chest pain or discomfort in the center of the chest; also described as a heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness or squeezing feeling that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It is sometimes mistakenly thought to be indigestion or heartburn. 2 Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body including the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. 3 Trouble breathing or feeling shortness of breath. 4 Sweating or "cold sweat." 5 Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like " heartburn "). 6 Nausea or vomiting. 7 Light-headedness, dizziness, extreme weakness or anxiety. 8 Rapid or irregular heart beats.
What is MI in medical terms?
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), is permanent damage to the heart muscle. "Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and "infarction" means death of tissue due to lack of blood supply. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.
How to get rid of heart problems?
Keep all your medical appointments and be an active member of your health. Seeing your healthcare providers on a regular basis can uncover any heart-related issues quickly and treatment can begin immediately. You don't have to make lifestyle changes all on your own. Ask your healthcare team for help.
What is it called when you have a clot in your heart?
This is called atherosclerosis. Sometimes this plaque ruptures and forms a clot within the artery, which restricts blood flow to your heart. Blocked blood flow cuts off the needed supply of oxygen and nutrients, damaging or destroying that area of heart muscle.
Why do you need an echocardiogram?
Echocardiogram (echo) An echo can be performed during and after a heart attack to learn about how your heart is pumping and identify areas of your heart that are not pumping normally. The echo is also valuable to see if any structures of the heart (valves, septum, etc.) have been injured during the heart attack.
How long does it take to get help for a heart attack?
The best time to treat a heart attack is within one hour of the onset of the first symptoms. Waiting just a couple hours for medical help may change your treatment options, increase the amount of damage to your heart muscle and reduce your chance of survival.
How long does myocardial infarction last?
In some people, the symptoms may come and go, last over several hours, but may be subtle, especially in women.
What are the risk factors for a myocardial infarction?
Risk factors for a myocardial infarction include: 1 Age: men over the age of 45 or women over the age of 55 are at increased risk 2 Autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis 3 Diabetes 4 Family history of a myocardial infarction 5 High blood pressure 6 High cholesterol or triglyceride levels 7 Lack of physical activity 8 Metabolic syndrome 9 Obesity 10 Preeclampsia during pregnancy 11 Smoking or long-term exposure to second-hand smoke 12 Stress 13 Substance misuse
What is the term for a heart attack that causes a heart attack?
A myocardial infarction occurs when a portion of the heart muscle is starved of blood and oxygen and dies. Myocardial infarction literally means “ death of heart muscle ”, and is also known as a heart attack.
What happens if the heart muscle is not supplied with oxygen?
If the lack of oxygen persists, the heart muscle will die. This is known as a myocardial infarction or heart attack.
What to do if you have angina and you have nitroglycerin?
If you have already been diagnosed with angina, take nitroglycerin if prescribed. Call for emergency assistance if the nitroglycerin fails to resolve your symptoms. Seek emergency assistance (immediately call 911) if you are having symptoms of a myocardial infarction or you suspect somebody is having a myocardial infarction.
What is the condition called when the heart muscle is not affected by the blood supply?
About a quarter of all myocardial infarctions occur without warning signs and are often associated with a condition called “silent ischemia”, where interruptions to the blood supply of the heart muscle occur but these are pain-free although they still result in damage.
What causes chest pain and a low supply of oxygen?
Angina. Many myocardial infarctions are preceded by symptoms of angina, which is chest pain that is caused by a low supply of oxygen to the heart muscle, usually caused by a partially blocked coronary artery. Unlike a myocardial infarction, however, the tissue does not die, and the heart is not permanently damaged.
Why does myocardial infarction occur?
Myocardial infarction (MI) occurs as a result of prolonged myocardial ischaemia that leads to irreversible injury and necrosis of myocardial tissue because of inadequate blood supply. For most people this occurs suddenly and is due to the rupture of an atheromatous plaque and the formation of a thrombus within the coronary circulation.
What is the most common presenting symptom of MI?
The most common presenting symptom of MI is chest pain, which is often described as severe retrosternal chest pain of a crushing or squeezing nature. Other clues to the differential diagnosis of chest pain are that the pain may radiate to the arms (commonly the left arm), shoulders, neck and/or jaw.
Why does MI happen suddenly?
For most people this occurs suddenly and is due to the rupture of an atheromatous plaque and the formation of a thrombus within the coronary circulation. Less common causes of MI include vasospasm of a coronary artery, which causes temporary occlusion of the artery lumen, or a sudden increase in oxygen demand such as a sustained rapid cardiac ...
How long does it take to monitor a patient after MI?
This is usually due to a dysrhythmia and the patient will require continuous cardiac monitoring in coronary care for the first 24 to 48 hours.
How soon after MI can you give thrombolytics?
Giving thrombolytics (clot-dissolving drugs) as soon as possible after an acute MI reduces the risk of death and disability.
How long does it take for a patient to be ready for discharge?
From then on mobilisation is rapid and the majority of patients should be ready for discharge in five to seven days. Psychological support is another vital component of the nurse’s role as patients often experience fear and anxiety for the first few days after admission.
What is the difference between Q wave infarction and non-Q wave infarction?
According to the layers of the heart involved, MIs can be classified as: Q wave infarction - area of necrosis occurs throughout the entire thickness of the heart muscle; and non-Q wave infarction - area of necrosis is confined to the innermost layer of the heart lining the chambers. Characteristic elevations in the serum levels ...
What does it feel like to have a heart attack?
The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat.
How to improve heart health after heart attack?
Lifestyle changes —Eating a healthier diet, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and managing stress—in addition to taking prescribed medicines— can help improve your heart health and quality of life.
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation — Cardiac rehabilitation is an important program for anyone recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problem that required surgery or medical care.
What are the risk factors for heart disease?
About half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking. 2. Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.
How to reduce the chances of heart attack?
Your doctor may want you to limit work , travel, or sexual activity for some time after a heart attack.
Can a heart attack cause shortness of breath?
This often comes along with chest discomfort, but shortness of breath also can happen before chest discomfort. Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely to have these other symptoms. Learn more about women and heart disease.
Why is mitral regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle rupture more likely to occur after an inferior AMI?
Mitral regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle rupture is more likely to occur after an inferior AMI because of the single blood supply; the anterolateral papillary muscle is more protected because of its dual blood supply from the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries. Presentation and diagnosis.
What is the leading cause of in-hospital mortality associated with AMI?
Cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock, a leading cause of in-hospital mortality associated with AMI, is a state of inadequate cardiac output resulting in life-threatening organ hypoperfusion. As with other AMI complications, early recognition and treatment are key.
What is the pericardium?
The pericardium is an elastic sac that surrounds the heart, protecting it from infection and trauma. It has two layers that are separated by a small amount of fluid. An AMI can cause inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis). Peri-infarction pericarditis and Dressler syndrome are forms of pericarditis that can develop after an AMI. Peri-infarction pericarditis develops soon after an AMI; Dressler syndrome occurs anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks after.
What is the role of nurses in AMI?
Early reperfusion and medical therapy have drastically reduced AMI complications, but they still occur. Nurses play an integral role in identifying and managing AMIs ...
What is the gold standard for diagnosis of a ruptured heart?
The gold standard for diagnosis is an echocardiogram, which will identify the size and location of the rupture. If echocardiogram data are unclear, the patient will undergo a right heart catheterization to detect altered left- and right-side pressures caused by shunting of blood from the left to the right ventricle.
Does reperfusion help with myocardial infarction?
Takeaways: Early reperfusion and medical therapy have drastically reduced acute myocardial infarction complications. Despite advanced therapies, complications continue to arise. Nurses play an integral role in prompt identification of complications related to an acute myocardial infarction and initiating early treatment to prevent long-term adverse ...
Risk Factors
Clinical Features
- The most common presenting symptom of MI is chest pain, which is often described as severe retrosternal chest pain of a crushing or squeezing nature. Other clues to the differential diagnosis of chest pain are that the pain may radiate to the arms (commonly the left arm), shoulders, neck and/or jaw. The pain usually continues for more than 20 minut...
Diagnosis
- A definitive diagnosis depends on electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and is supported by abnormal serum cardiac enzyme levels. ECG is the single most valuable immediate diagnostic tool for the nurse. ECGs record different views of the electrical activity of the heart and provide information by viewing the heart from different angles. Unequivocal ECG changes of an MI in 80 …
Management and Nursing Intervention
- The early diagnosis of an MI facilitates admission to coronary care units (CCUs) where registered nurses with clinical expertise in cardiac nursing can quickly identify and act on complications. Whether the patient is admitted directly to the CCU or an A&E department, the rapid management of patients with chest pain should ensure that there is no more than 30 minutes delay in decisio…
Conclusion
- Early identification of an MI facilitates prompt admission to coronary care where complications can be identified early and treated. The focus of what should be done for a patient with an acute MI has changed from bed rest to early intervention and attention is now given to treatment that can alter the course of the disease. The NSF provides evidence-based guidance for treatment an…