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Myocardial Infarction: Difference between revisions
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===History=== | ===History=== | ||
[[File:Heart_attack_pain_areas.svg|thumb|left|200px|Typical anginal chest pain distribution]] | |||
Classic presentation of a myocardial infarction is acute chest pain which lasts longer than a few minutes. The pain does not decrease at rest and is only temporarily relieved with nitroglycerin. Common accompanying symptoms are radiating pain to shoulder, arm, back and/or jaw. Shortness of breath can occur, as well as sweating, fainting, nausea and vomiting, so called vegetative symptoms. Some patients not really complain about chest pain but more about abdominal pain so as with angina pectoris the presentation can be very a specific. | Classic presentation of a myocardial infarction is acute chest pain which lasts longer than a few minutes. The pain does not decrease at rest and is only temporarily relieved with nitroglycerin. Common accompanying symptoms are radiating pain to shoulder, arm, back and/or jaw. Shortness of breath can occur, as well as sweating, fainting, nausea and vomiting, so called vegetative symptoms. Some patients not really complain about chest pain but more about abdominal pain so as with angina pectoris the presentation can be very a specific. | ||
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Signs of heart failure such as orthopnea (not able to sleep without a pillow), progressive dyspnoea and oedematous ankles are indicative for the extent of the problem. | Signs of heart failure such as orthopnea (not able to sleep without a pillow), progressive dyspnoea and oedematous ankles are indicative for the extent of the problem. | ||
A suspected myocardial infarction should be rapidly evaluated to initiate appropriate therapy. | A suspected myocardial infarction should be rapidly evaluated to initiate appropriate therapy. | ||
===Physical Examination=== | ===Physical Examination=== | ||