Myocardial infarction pathophysiology Flashcards
1
Q
what is a myocardial infarction?
A
heart attack
2
Q
what is the base cause of MI?
A
coronary blood flow is occluded due to blood clots or fatty deposits, over a period of time the myocardium will die resulting in an MI
3
Q
who are some individuals at risk of MI?
A
- medical history of vascular disease
- medical history of MI or cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- family history of cardiovascular disease
- south asian ethnic populations
- men older than 45
- women older than 55 or after menopause
- smokers
- excessive alcohol intake (increases LDL levels)
- recreational drug use
- hypertensives
- diabetics w/ or w/o insulin resistance
- people with hyperlipidemia and obesity
- inactivity
4
Q
what investigations can confirm diagnosis?
A
- chest x-ray
- blood chemistry (troponin, urea and electrolytes, cardiac enzyme)
- ECG (checks abnormal changes in rate, rhythm, electrical activity)
- angiogram (determines location and severity of blockages/narrowing arteries)
- echocardiogram (determine shape, size and left ventricular function)
- cardiac MRI
5
Q
what does myocardial ischaemia result from?
A
occlusion of the coronary artery and oxygen deprivation of the myocardial cells
