General

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is usually a heart disease that shutter (Coronary heart disease) a part of the heart muscle with no more blood (oxygen, nutrients) supplied. The heart muscle cells of this area (infarct area) die and there is scar tissue.

Depending on the size of the scar the pumping of the heart is restricted, more or less (heart failure) it can also cause heart rhythm abnormalities.

A heart attack is an emergency and requires immediate supervision and treatment in the nearest hospital.

Risk factors for a heart attack (Coronary Heart Disease)

* Smoking
* Overall Weight
* Stress
* Genetic predisposition
* Hypertension
* High cholesterol
* Physical inactivity
* Diabetes (diabetes mellitus)
* Age

Symptoms

Pain in the sternum or the heart area. The pain as tightness, pressure likes to be very intense sometimes also described as burning.

* The pain in the chest area may remain localized or in the neck, lower jaw, arms, shoulders or in the upper radiate.
* The pain can be anxiety, cold sweat, nausea and vomiting associated. The complexion is often pale, pale. In addition, palpitations, and it can also, to a circulatory collapse with impotence come.
* Sometimes a heart attack can also be run without any symptoms (silent myocardial infarction).

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a heart attack is based next to the clinic primarily on laboratory tests and ECG findings.

Therapy

* A heart attack requires immediate hospitalization and intensive medical supervision.
* Various medications (nitrates, Tc-aggregation inhibitors, beta-blockers, Ca + +-blockers, ACE inhibitors, opiates, Antiarhythmika etc.) to help the oxygen supply to the heart to improve heart rhythm to stabilize or to relieve pain.
* A further treatment is thrombolysis, which start in early (preferably within the first 6 hours) in certain cases Koronargefäss to reopen a sealed can.
* Ev. Are also invasive surgical measures necessary to eg Koronarangioplastie, bypass surgery?
* Finally, there will always be about the long-term risk factor (smoking, high blood pressure, weight, etc.) to be reduced.

Forecast

The long-term prognosis depends mainly on how far it succeeds the risk factors of atherosclerosis by changing lifestyles and appropriate drug therapy to decrease.