Myocardial Infaraction

In December of 1992, my paternal grandfather suffered a heart attack. He had been hauling several 50 lb. sacks of corn up into the deer feeder on his property by himself. He got into his truck, turned the ignition, put it into drive and before he could take his foot off the brake, he was dead. He was 68 years old. I was thirteen and that seemed so old. I remember that prior to the event there were many conversations within my family about the condition of my grandfather’s heart and cardiovascular system and how he needed to make lifestyle changes. I remember him taking nitroglycerine pills. I remember him coming to Dallas to go to an appointment so that they could perform tests with names like “stress EKG.” I

Diagnosing myocardial infarction in critically ill patients is challenging [1]. Ischaemic chest pain is uncommon due to analgesic use and communication of ischaemic symptoms – when

Coronary artery disease remains number one killer of the western civilization despite 40 years of aggressive drug and surgical interventions (Esselstyn). Usually, pharmaceutical drugs, such as statin, are given to try to slow the progression, but may provide uncomfortable side effects. In fact, the majority of patients discontinue statins within 1 year of treatment initiation (Maningat). Furthermore, surgery is performed to circumvent clogged arteries and literally bypass the symptoms. In the last year, 500,000 coronary bypass procedures were performed (Swaminathan et al). However, these surgeries can have significant risks, including the potential to cause further heart damage, stroke, and brain dysfunction. Thus, it is evident that these way of treatments may not be enough on its own, and that getting to the

Aldosterone is the mineralocorticoid steroid which is release from the adrenal gland, situated superior to the kidney. Aldosterone play a major role for the retention of water and sodium in the nephrone (10) in the patient with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome (25). The level of the Aldosterone will increase in the patient of heart failure when angiotensin I receptors is activated by Angiotensin II leading to fluid overload (10).

One of the patient’s secondary diagnoses is atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris. He had a heart valve replacement in 2011. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque made of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances builds up inside the arteries. This is an issue because the plaque hardens over time and narrows the arteries, which then limits the flow of oxygenated blood to vital tissues. This condition can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death. Coronary artery atherosclerosis is the single largest killer of both men and women in the United States (Boudi, 2016). The patient’s atherosclerosis is located in the coronary artery. This artery is one of two main blood vessels that branch off

Aldosterone falls in the class of hormone called mineralocorticoids, produces by the adrenal glands and is found near the kidneys. It sustains blood pressure, water and salt balance within the body. This procedure is assisting the kidneys to preserve sodium and excrete potassium in order to maintain a balance. If Aldosterone production falls, there isn’t enough regulation of salt and water balance (as aldosterone is being lost through urination) triggering blood pressure and blood volume to decline as a result of the kidneys not functioning properly. If body is in need of salt, water is not retained and adrenals release more Aldosterone and salt is reabsorbed from the tubule.

Institute, H. V. (Ed.). (2018, January 05). George Washington University Heart & Vascular Institute. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from

Cardiovascular disease is a global health problem causing nearly 1 in 3 deaths every year. Many of these deaths are due to coronary heart disease. Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major manifestation of coronary heart disease. In 1959, the World Health Organization defined MI as a combination of 2 of 3 characteristics: typical symptoms, enzyme rise, and a typical electrocardiographic (Patil, 2011).

This source is reliable because it is published by the EBSCOhost database. The author is Amy Scholten, who has a MPH, Master of Public Health. This is a high level degree which helps to conclude to Scholten being a reliable source of information. In Scholten’s bibliography, she cites the American Heart Association and also the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, two highly recognizable sources of information about the human heart. Due to the accurate information given, there is no bias in this

After an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event, patients are potentially at risk of further ischemic events for a considerable period time. These events may include unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), acute MI (STEMI) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The use of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) along with aspirin significantly lowers the risk of complications such as platelet-mediated thrombosis with ACS (Wiviott & Steg, 2015). For patients that participate in cardiac

A myocardial infarction otherwise known as an MI or heart attack can happen to anyone at any time. It is very important for people of all generations, sexes, and origin to know the signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction. The signs of an MI may be different from person to person and no two people will share the same exact symptoms; therefore, knowing what to watch out for is the best form of education a patient can have. The amount of time a patient seeks treatment before the blood flow is completely obstructed and the heart muscle begins to die is a very important part of the treatment for an MI. If the heart muscle becomes hypoxic or damaged during a heart attack it heals by forming scar tissue. The heart will still work; however, it will have to work harder to compensate for what it has lost. Every year in the United States thousands of people not only survive a heart attack, but go on to live a very healthy and normal life. The amount of time it takes for a person to get to the emergency department is one of the biggest factors in determining how long it will take for someone to recover after a myocardial infarction (American Heart Association, 2015).

Aldosterone this hormone helps to maintain the body’s salt and water levels which, in turn, regulates blood pressure. Without aldosterone, the kidney loses excessive amounts of salt (sodium) and, consequently, water, leading to severe dehydration. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone. Its main role is to regulate salt and water in the body, thus having an effect on blood pressure. Aldosterone also causes water to be reabsorbed along with sodium; this increases blood volume and therefore blood pressure. Aldosterone indirectly regulates blood levels of electrolytes sodium, potassium and hydrogen and helps to maintain the blood ph. Cortisol this hormone is involved in the stress response and also helps to regulate body metabolism. Cortisol stimulates

The release of aldosterone affects the body by causing the kidneys to hold water and sodium and lose potassium.

It is estimated that about 7.9 million Americans are alive that have had a heart attack also known as myocardial infraction (“Heart Disease”). 15% of people that have a heart attack will die from it (Krucik).

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, usually occurs when a blood clot forms inside a coronary artery at the site of an atherosclerotic plaque. The blood clot severely limits or completely cuts off blood flow to part of the heart. In a small percentage of cases, blood flow is cut off when the muscles in the artery wall contract suddenly, constricting the artery. This constriction, called vasospasm, can occur in an artery that is only slightly narrowed by atherosclerosis or even in a healthy artery. Regardless of the cause of a heart attack, the oxygen deprivation is so severe and prolonged that heart muscle cells begin to die for lack of oxygen. About 1.1 million people in the United States have a heart attack every year;