Q.What is Myocardial infarction ?

Myocardial infarction is the death of heart muscle tissue caused by a sudden blockage of blood flow through a coronary artery.

Definition: Myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart muscle (myocardium) is abruptly and severely reduced or cut off, causing that region of tissue to die (necrosis) from lack of oxygen.

Mechanism:

• Most commonly caused by the rupture of an atherosclerotic (fatty) plaque inside a coronary artery, which triggers formation of a blood clot (thrombus) that blocks the artery.
• The blocked artery can no longer deliver oxygenated blood to the heart muscle it supplies.
• Without oxygen, myocardial cells in that region begin to die within minutes, and the damage is permanent unless blood flow is restored quickly.

Symptoms/consequences: …