Common heart attack signs and symptoms include:

myoglobin

It is not possible to diagnose a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction by ECG alone. Patients are treated presumptively and diagnosis is made if the level of serum cardiac markers rise over several hours.

1. Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back.
2. Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain.
3. Shortness of breath.
4. Cold sweat.
5. Fatigue.
6. Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.

Introduction Q-waves on 12 lead ECG is considered a marker of transmural myocardial infarction (MI) and is used universally. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) accurately identifies MI and has become the gold standard for the assessment of myocardial viability.

Observation of q or Q waves suggest a diagnosis of OLD inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI). Absence of ST segment elevation in inferior leads also contribute to the diagnosis of OLD inferior MI.

Complications associated with myocardial infarction

• Disturbance of rate, rhythm and conduction.
• Cardiac rupture.
• Heart failure.
• Pericarditis.
• Ventricular septal defect.
• Ventricular aneurysm.
• Ruptured papillary muscles.
• Dressler’s syndrome.

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.

Suspicion for a posterior MI must remain high, especially if inferior ST segment elevation is also present. ST segment elevation in the inferior leads (II, III and aVF) if an inferior MI is also present.

About 68.4 per cent males and 89.8 per cent females still living have already lived 10 to 14 years or longer after their first infarction attack; 27.3 per cent males, 15 to 19 years; and 4.3 per cent, 20 years or longer; of the females, one is alive 15 years, one 23 years and one 25 years or longer.

Most patients stay in the hospital for about a week or less. Upon returning home, you will need rest and relaxation. A return to all of your normal activities, including work, may take a few weeks to 2 or 3 months, depending on your condition. A full recovery is defined as a return to normal activities.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with a 30% mortality rate; about 50% of the deaths occur prior to arrival at the hospital. An additional 5-10% of survivors die within the first year after their myocardial infarction.

The causes of myocardial infarction, or a heart attack, all involve some kind of blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries provide the heart with oxygenated blood, and if they become blocked, the heart will become oxygen starved, killing heart tissue and causing a heart attack.

A heart attack occurs when one of the heart’s coronary arteries is blocked suddenly or has extremely slow blood flow. A heart attack also is called a myocardial infarction. The usual cause of sudden blockage in a coronary artery is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus).

Why STEMI heart attacks are so deadly Unlike skin or hair, once heart muscle is damaged, it will never grow back. All heart attacks are serious, but one type of is the most dangerous of all and it’s known as a STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction), or a widowmaker heart attack.

A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck or jaw.

Nitroglycerin is also contraindicated in the setting of an inferior MI with right ventricular involvement because, in this specific situation, the heart is dependent on preload.

An inferior myocardial infarction results from occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). This can cause a ST elevation myocardial infarction or a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

A moderate amount of heart blockage is typically that in the 40-70% range, as seen in the diagram above where there is a 50% blockage at the beginning of the right coronary artery. Usually, heart blockage in the moderate range does not cause significant limitation to blood flow and so does not cause symptoms.

Inferior wall myocardial infarction

Fluid infusion is the mainstay of treatment for patients with RVI. In the case of an inferior MI with right ventricular involvement, the administration of nitroglycerin and morphine could cause an abrupt drop in blood pressure.

All patients with chest pain should receive a 12-lead ECG early in the patient encounter. When the patient is suffering acute inferior STEMI a right-sided 12-lead ECG can help to identify right ventricular infarction. Be careful with nitroglycerin in the setting of right ventricular infarction.

12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrating evidence of inferior myocardial infarction (MI). ST-elevation is seen in leads II, III and aVF. Reciprocal changes can be seen in leads I, aVL, V2 and V3. There is also some ST-elevation in leads V5 and V6.

Myocardial ischemia, also called cardiac ischemia, reduces the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood. A sudden, severe blockage of one of the heart’s artery can lead to a heart attack. Myocardial ischemia might also cause serious abnormal heart rhythms.

On average, women live longer than men with heart disease. At age 50 women can expect to live 7.9 years and men 6.7 years with heart disease. The average woman experiences heart disease onset three years older and heart attacks 4.4 years older than men.

The most common symptom of myocardial ischemia is angina (also called angina pectoris). Angina is chest pain that is also described as chest discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness, or squeezing. It can feel like indigestion or heartburn.

Coronary heart disease cannot be cured but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems such as heart attacks. Treatment can include: lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and stopping smoking.