A myocardial Infarction or heart attack is when blood flow to your heart is blocked for a long enough time that part of your heart muscle is damaged or dies
Risk Factors for a heart attack
Age
Diabetes
High Cholesterol
Obesity
Stress
Lack of Physical Activity
Illegal Drug Use
Causes of a heart attack
There are many different causes for a heart attack, so it is difficult to find the exact cause of each and every one. Most heart attacks are caused by a block clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries, which provide blood and oxygen to the heart.
When do Heart attacks Occur?
Heart attacks can happen at any time but the most common times for a heart attack to occur are:
after a sudden increase in physical activity
after a sudden, severe emotional or physical stress
Signs/Symptoms of Heart attack
Chest pain that sometimes radiates to the jaw or left arm
Lightheaded/dizziness
Shortness of breath
Anxiety
Nausea or vomiting
Sweating
Fainting
Nursing Priorities for a heart attack
Obtain an EKG to check for changes
Place the patient on continuous telemetry monitoring to monitor for cardiac arrhythmias
Place an IV and obtain blood work such as a CBC, BMP, electrolytes, coagulation factors and a troponin
Administer aspirin for the anti platelet properties and administer morphine and nitroglycerin to reduce the pain
Place the patient on oxygen so the heart doesn't have to work as hard
If your patients EKG looks like this... they are having a heart attack
Treatment for a heart attack
If the patient is having a complete heart attack or STEMI they will go to the cardiac cauterization lab immediately to get the heart reperfused quickly
If the patient is having an incomplete heart attack or NSTEMI, the treatment is patient specific and would rely on the cardiologists. Often times IV heparin will be administered to the patient for its anticoagulation properties
