Acute heart attack - Acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation

It is a cardiac cell injury caused by obstruction of one or more coronary arteries, which causes a lack of oxygen in the myocardial cells.

There is a genetic predisposition associated with this disease. Factors that favor occlusion of the inner lumen of the coronary vessels have also been described: smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension.

It manifests with oppressive chest pain that may radiate to the arms, neck, shoulders and/or back. It is usually accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting, urge to defecate and sensation of imminent death.

Diagnosis is clinical, by interrogation, physical examination and electrocardiogram. Rapid diagnosis is of vital importance to initiate treatment and save as many cardiac cells as possible.

Treatment is aimed at early reestablishment of blood circulation in the blocked cardiac vessel, using antiplatelet and vasodilator drugs. Opioid analgesics will be used to calm pain and heart rate slowing drugs to reduce the oxygen consumption of myocardial cells.

If cardiac catheterization is available to permeabilize the artery with a catheter from the inside, it can be very useful during the first minutes of occlusion, prior to anticoagulation.

If you have oppressive chest pain, you should consult your practitioner urgently to rule out this disease.