Both cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction can cause sudden cardiac death. As temperatures drop below freezing, cardiovascular diseases enter a high-risk period. Today, experts from Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences will help clarify common misconceptions and overlooked issues regarding myocardial infarction, equipping you with life-saving knowledge for critical moments.
Persistent chest pain and profuse sweating are common symptoms
>Myocardial infarction, literally "heart muscle infarction," occurs when the coronary arteries supplying the heart suddenly block, causing persistent myocardial ischemia and subsequent necrosis. This primarily happens when atherosclerotic plaque in already narrowed coronary arteries ruptures due to certain triggers, inducing platelet aggregation and forming a thrombus that abruptly obstructs the artery.Myocardial ischemia and necrosis can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias, heart failure, shock, and even sudden death. Therefore, early and effective recognition of myocardial infarction is critical.
How to recognize myocardial infarction? Typical symptoms include severe, crushing pain behind the sternum or in the precordial area lasting over 30 minutes, which is not relieved by rest or sublingual nitroglycerin.Patients often experience profuse sweating, restlessness, anxiety, chest tightness, or a sense of impending doom. Persistent chest pain and heavy sweating are the most common clinical manifestations among myocardial infarction patients in China. Approximately 10% of patients present solely with syncope or shock.
These mistakes are most easily overlooked
Myocardial infarction symptoms are often overlooked. Beyond obvious signs like angina or arrhythmia, myocardial infarction can manifest in unexpected, unfamiliar ways. Examples include shoulder pain, jaw pain, restlessness, profuse sweating, stomach pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting.
Absolute bed rest is essential. If you experience suspected myocardial infarction symptoms, remain absolutely bedridden—do not sit up or move about. Immediately call 911. Do not gamble with your life; moving could rapidly worsen the infarction, causing sudden collapse and irreversible consequences.
Households with middle-aged or elderly members should keep aspirin and nitroglycerin readily available, ensuring they are replaced when expired.
During a myocardial infarction, the correct medication before going to the hospital is to immediately crush and swallow 300mg of aspirin, then measure blood pressure after taking it.If the patient's blood pressure is lower than usual, nitroglycerin should not be taken; if it is similar to normal levels, it can be administered sublingually. The first 120 minutes after a heart attack onset represent the golden rescue period. Every second counts during this critical window. Do not ignore suspected myocardial infarction symptoms. Even if manifestations are subtle, the patient may still sense something is wrong.At this point, do not take chances—seek immediate medical evaluation by a professional physician. Remember: acute myocardial infarction is a life-threatening emergency beyond self-management with high mortality. Early hospital admission is the optimal approach—better to be safe than sorry! The first step upon acute myocardial infarction onset is to immediately contact emergency services.
Don't confuse heart attack with angina pectoris
While myocardial infarction and angina pectoris share similar symptoms—both involve chest pain and tightness—they also differ in key aspects.
Location of pain is generally similar. Angina typically occurs behind the middle to upper sternum and may radiate to the left shoulder, inner left arm, or back. The pain location for myocardial infarction is largely the same as angina, though it may occur lower down or in the upper abdomen. In some cases, it may manifest as toothache, shoulder pain, or back pain.
Similar nature of pain: Angina typically feels like pressure or tightness, possibly with a burning sensation, but not sharp like a needle prick or knife cut. Occasionally, it may be accompanied by a fear of impending death. Myocardial infarction shares a similar nature of pain with angina but is more intense, usually accompanied by a fear of impending death.
Triggers differ: Angina often occurs after strenuous physical activity, emotional stress, exposure to cold, or overeating. Myocardial infarction, however, presents without such triggers and involves sudden onset of pain.
Frequency varies: Angina episodes are recurrent, typically lasting no more than 15 minutes. Myocardial infarction episodes can persist for hours or longer.
Symptoms differ: Angina typically lacks fever, nausea, or vomiting; myocardial infarction may present with fever, nausea, vomiting, along with chest tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, pallor, and palpitations.
Differences in Relief Methods Angina caused by physical exertion typically subsides upon ceasing activity. For angina patients, sublingual nitroglycerin usually provides significant pain relief. However, nitroglycerin is ineffective for relieving pain in myocardial infarction patients.