Myocardial infarction is commonly known as a heart attack. If not treated immediately, it can range from arrhythmia and angina pectoris to shock or sudden death. What does it feel like during a myocardial infarction? Are chest pain and chest tightness precursors to myocardial infarction? We will help you understand the signs of myocardial infarction, help you detect yourself in advance, and prevent heart attacks.

What is myocardial infarction? Can I check myself?

Myocardial infarction is caused by the blockage of the coronary arteries of the heart, which interrupts the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscles, resulting in myocardial damage and necrosis. However, the coronary arteries of the heart do not become blocked overnight, and this process is usually gradual. type, so there are usually some signs and symptoms before the blood vessel is completely clogged.

These symptoms sometimes manifest in ways that are less related to the heart and may be pain in the neck or abdomen. If not carefully noticed, it is easy to be ignored and even miss the opportunity for early medical treatment. Here are 7 common symptoms of myocardial infarction.

7 major symptoms of myocardial infarction self-detection

If you have recently experienced the following symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical treatment as soon as possible and undergo the examinations described below to avoid a heart attack:

1. Chest pain or tightness:
   This is a typical symptom, often appearing a few weeks before the onset of myocardial infarction, and the symptoms will gradually worsen; the patient will feel that the heart is being squeezed, and there will be pressure and burning sensations in the left chest and the center of the chest.
   
2. Angina pectoris:
   It is also a common symptom. The patient will feel a heavy weight pressing on the chest and difficulty breathing. The discomfort of chest pain will radiate to the left shoulder, upper arm, back, abdomen, neck, jaw, and even teeth, lasting about 3~ 5 minutes.

If chest pain lasts for more than 15 to 20 minutes, it is usually a precursor to myocardial infarction, and it is recommended to seek medical treatment immediately.
​

1. breathing not smooth:
   I usually don’t feel breathless when walking or going up and down stairs, but recently I started to feel breathless or short of breath.
   
2. Upper abdominal pain:
   Upper abdominal pain caused by myocardial infarction can easily be confused with general gastrointestinal discomfort, so high-risk groups need to pay more attention and observe other symptoms together.
   
3. Cold sweat:
   Sweating is not caused by exercise or heat, but due to physical discomfort or difficulty breathing.
   
4. Dizziness, nausea and vomiting:
   usually cannot be relieved after resting for more than 10 to 20 minutes.
   
5. Easily tired, weak and generally weak:
   the body feels unusually tired even without exertion.

The above symptoms usually appear in the early stage of myocardial infarction, such as a few weeks or a few days ago, and become more frequent and severe. Therefore, if there are mild signs, it is recommended to seek medical examination, especially for high-risk groups such as those with high blood pressure and the elderly.

How do you know if you have a myocardial infarction? Introduction to 7 major examinations for myocardial infarction

If myocardial infarction is suspected, the doctor will arrange the following examinations as appropriate to confirm the blockage of the heart blood vessels and the related symptoms caused by the blockage:

1. Resting electrocardiogram:
   It can be used to diagnose acute myocardial infarction and is the fastest test to diagnose myocardial infarction.
   
2. Cardiac ultrasound:
   observe cardiac contractility and whether there are conditions such as cardiac hypertrophy, tumors, valvular abnormalities, congenital heart disease, or old myocardial infarction.
   
3. Carotid artery ultrasound:
   Confirms whether there is atherosclerotic plaque or carotid artery stenosis in the carotid arteries that supply blood flow to the brain.
   
4. ProBNP:
   A blood test to assess the severity of heart failure.
   
5. Exercise electrocardiogram:
   Use the subject’s exercise status on the treadmill to observe heart changes during physical activity and check for hypoxia problems.
   
6. Cardiac coronary artery calcium index analysis:
   It can understand the degree of cardiac coronary artery calcification and assess the risk of myocardial infarction.
   
7. Cardiac coronary artery computed tomography:
   It can examine the degree of coronary artery sclerosis and stenosis, and is very helpful in predicting the risk of coronary heart disease.

​