Myocardial Infarction

Question 1

Structures Involved (6)

Answer 1

Heart
Muscles
Coronary Arteries
Blood vessels
Blood (clots)
AV/SAN/Bundle of His/Purkinje Fibres

Question 2

Risk Factors (4)

Answer 2

Unhealthy diet
Increased LDL cholesterol
Poor exercise habits
Genetic risk

Question 3

Psychological Impact

Answer 3

Anxiety
PTSD
Panic Attacks

Question 4

Pathology (4)

Answer 4

Plaque build up in arteries leads to blockages and blood clots

Hardening of arterial walls

Increases stress of ventricular walls of heart

Heart does not get enough oxygen, so does not beat normally

Question 5

Investigation (5)

Answer 5

Chest X-Ray
ECG
Blood Test
ST elevation/depression 
Angiogram with coronary catheterisation

Question 6

Symptoms/ Signs/ History (8)

Answer 6

Pressure, tightness + squeezing of chest 
Shortness of breath
Light-headedness/ Dizziness 
Fatigue
Cold Sweat
Nausea/ Vomiting
High blood pressure
Radiations down left arm

Question 7

Treatments (4)

Answer 7

Aspirin to prevent blood clots
Alteplase to dissolve clots
Stent to bypass blockage/ Angioplasty
Strong pain relief + oxygen

Question 8

STEMI

Answer 8

ST elevation MI
Subepicardial myocyte damage (surface of heart)

Question 9

NSTEMI

Answer 9

Non-ST elevation MI
Subendocardial myocyte damage (deeper layer)

Question 10

Why is a STEMI more serious than an NSTEMI?

Answer 10

Coronary arteries go from outside to inside of heart so as in a STEMI the subepicardial cells are damaged, this menas the blood supply to the heart is more interrupted thus leads to more severe ischaemia and myocyte death