Myocardial infarction has become the "number one killer" of human health, causing huge damage to the human body in a short period of time. It is an urgent, high-risk, and high mortality disease. If not treated in a timely manner, sudden death is prone to occur. So, what is myocardial infarction? What are the obvious symptoms of myocardial infarction? What are the first aid methods and preventive measures? Below, I will take you to understand.
What is myocardial infarction?
Myocardial infarction, simply put, is a type of heart disease in which the arterial blood vessels of the heart rupture due to the formation of blood clots, which block the blood vessels and cause loss of blood flow, resulting in muscle necrosis of the heart.
Myocardial infarction is the most serious type of heart disease, as it can lead to sudden death. Most of the sudden deaths we hear about are caused by heart disease, and myocardial infarction accounts for the vast majority of sudden deaths caused by heart disease.
Myocardial infarction is not only the main cause of sudden death, but if left untreated, it can also lead to heart failure. Once heart failure occurs, the 5-year mortality rate is 50%. That is to say, myocardial infarction is very serious, not only causing sudden death, but also shortening lifespan.
What are the obvious symptoms?
Angina pectoris is the main symptom. Chest pain or pain in the precordial area. According to statistics, 1/4 of myocardial infarction patients do not experience chest pain, 50% of myocardial infarction patients do not know that they have a myocardial infarction, 85% of myocardial infarction patients do not know to call 120 immediately, and 10% of myocardial infarction patients die on their way to the hospital. A typical myocardial infarction is sudden and persistent chest compressional pain, accompanied by sweating or chest tightness, and a feeling of impending death.
But myocardial infarction may also manifest as persistent headaches, toothache, back pain, left shoulder pain, upper abdominal pain, upper arm pain, or even non pain, just a feeling of tightness in the throat, chest tightness, blackness in the eyes, and a desire to relieve oneself.
In short, persistent angina is a myocardial infarction!
First aid methods and preventive measures
Firstly, myocardial infarction refers to a condition in which the coronary artery is insufficiently supplied or completely blocked, resulting in myocardial ischemia and necrosis. The coronary artery is the blood vessel that supplies the heart itself. When the coronary artery narrows or blocks, the myocardium is damaged due to ischemia. Myocardial infarction usually presents with severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, sweating, nausea, and other symptoms. If rescue measures are not taken in a timely manner, myocardial infarction may lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Secondly, the risk factors of myocardial infarction include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, family history, etc. These factors increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction. Therefore, controlling these risk factors is crucial for preventing myocardial infarction.
Emergency treatment is a crucial step in myocardial infarction. When symptoms of myocardial infarction occur, the first thing to do is to immediately call the emergency number. During the process of waiting for emergency treatment to arrive, patients can take a sip of aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clot formation. Then, the patient needs to remain calm, rest in bed, and avoid excessive activity. After the arrival of emergency personnel, a series of first aid measures will be taken, such as providing oxygen, intravenous medication, and conducting electrocardiogram monitoring. Early emergency treatment can minimize the damage caused by myocardial infarction and improve survival rates.
Preventing myocardial infarction is equally important.
Firstly, we should maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, moderate exercise, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. In addition, regular physical examinations, monitoring of blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar and other indicators are also very important. For individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease, early screening and intervention should be carried out. Regular use of aspirin and other medications can effectively prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular events.
In summary, myocardial infarction is a serious cardiovascular disease, but through reasonable emergency and preventive measures, we can reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction and save more lives. Therefore, each of us should strengthen our understanding of myocardial infarction, enhance self-protection awareness, and actively promote the popularization of cardiovascular health education, contributing our own strength to building a healthy society.