Acute myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack. This condition occurs when blood flow to the coronary arteries of the heart is narrowed. Both of these things will make the heart muscle lack of oxygen and damage.
Acute myocardial infarction is a heart attack that occurs because the coronary arteries are narrowed. Coronary arteries are very important blood vessels in the cardiovascular system. These vessels are in charge of flowing blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle or myocardium.
Narrowing of the coronary arteries is generally caused by atherosclerosis or the buildup of plaques of LDL cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats on their inner walls. When coronary arteries narrow, blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or even stops suddenly.
This causes the heart muscle to lack the oxygen it needs to function. If this happens for a long time, there is permanent damage to the heart muscle.
Recognize the Risk Factors for Acute Myocardial Infarction
Acute myocardial infarction can occur in both men and women. Some of the factors that can increase the risk of acute myocardial infarction are:
- Elderly, i.e. more than 55 years for women and more than 45 years for men
- Have a family history of acute myocardial infarction
- Have had a previous acute myocardial infarction
- Have high blood pressure which can accelerate the buildup of plaque and damage to arteries
- Have high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Suffering from diabetes, because high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and trigger plaque buildup
- Being overweight (overweight) or obesity
- Often consume high-fat and high-calorie foods, such as fast food and fried foods
- Smoke
- Lack of exercise
In addition, people who experience prolonged stress, women with a history of preeclampsia or hypertension during pregnancy, women who experience early menopause, and users of illegal drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine, are also at higher risk of developing acute myocardial infarction.
The main symptom of acute myocardial infarction is chest pain that does not go away even after resting. In addition, other symptoms that may appear are cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, coughing, heart palpitations, and dizziness.
However, each person can experience different symptoms of acute myocardial infarction, depending on the severity of the damage to the heart muscle. Some cases even report that patients feel their heart attack symptoms feel like flu symptoms.
Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction
People who experience acute myocardial infarction should immediately stop doing activities and immediately contact the nearest hospital for help.
Actions that can be performed in the hospital include PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) or angioplasty and administration of drugs to ease the work of the heart and save the heart muscle.
Successful treatment of acute myocardial infarction is highly time dependent. The sooner treatment is given, the more likely the heart muscle to be saved. On the other hand, if treatment is delayed, the damage to the heart muscle can expand and lead to heart failure or even death.
Acute myocardial infarction can actually be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. One of them is by eating a balanced nutritious diet and avoiding the consumption of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods. If you smoke, start quitting smoking and do regular exercise to maintain a healthy heart and maintain an ideal body weight.
In addition, take the medicines that your doctor gives you regularly if you have a condition that increases your risk of developing an acute myocardial infarction. Visit your doctor according to the control schedule, so that your heart health can always be monitored, especially if you have had an acute myocardial infarction before.
If you feel symptoms of chest pain that do not improve and are accompanied by other symptoms that point to an acute myocardial infarction, immediately go to the hospital so that you can get treatment as soon as possible.