Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
A heart attack (or Myocardial infarction) is the death of cardiac muscle cells as a result of coronary artery disease. Which muscle cells die depends on the artery that’s blocked; any part of the left ventricle may be affected. (Since the right ventricle pumps against much less resistance, sending the blood around the lungs, the right ventricle is not affected.) The outcome depends on the size of the damaged tissue, on whether or not there is an arrhythmia, and on whether or not the blockage can be reversed by using agents such as streptokinase to dissolve the clot (a process called thrombolysis).
The faster the clot is dissolved the less likely there is to be persistent damage. For this reason people who suffer severe chest pain should immediately chew an aspirin and call an ambulance. Myocardial infarction is more likely in patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, who smoke and drink to excess, are overweight, have a sedentary occupation and take no exercise.
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