Questions regarding a myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack.
A myocardial infarction occurs if blood flow through the heart muscle stops or is significantly decreased. This will damage the heart muscle and if not treated, the oxygen supply to vital organs will decrease. Untreated myocardial infarctions are lethal.
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Common causes for a myocardial infarct is a coronary artery disease. Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking and over-weight or diabetes.
Symptoms of a myocardial infarction are chest pain, which often radiates to the left arm. However, roughly 30% of myocardial infarctions have atypical symptoms. When an infarction is suspected, it is important to call emergency services immediately, as the survival rate drastically decreases with time.
Usually, myocardial infarctions are diagnosed with an electrocardiogram (ECG). Elevated ST segments are a typical indicator of a heart attack.
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