August
2008
Heart Attack (Acute Coronary Syndrome)
Myocardial Infarction (MI) is a “heart attack” in which heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood/oxygen and dies. Main cause is from a coronary artery getting blocked by a clot that forms on an atherosclerotic plaque (called acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that occurs abou 1,200,000 times a year). 38% die each year from ACS (450,000 people). That is 1 in every 5 deaths making coronary heart disease (CHD) #1 cause of death in USA. 16 million Americans have CHD. ½ millions new cases of stable angina a year.
ACS: Chest pains aren’t pain – squeezing of the chest, heaviness like an elephant standing on the chest. Under the sternum more than 15 minutes. 20min heart muscles die. Radiation of discomfort like a numbness to neck, jaw, shoulder, down left arm, maybe back. N, SOB, palpitations, lightheadness, sweating. Often occurs with exertion though can occur at rest especially with h/o angina.
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