Health Tips & Info : Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), What Is It ?

Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die. This is most commonly due to occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery following the rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, which is an unstable collection of lipids (cholesterol and fatty acids) and white blood cells (especially macrophages) in the wall of an artery. The resulting ischemia (restriction in blood supply) and ensuing oxygen shortage, if left untreated for a sufficient period of time, can cause damage or death (infarction) of heart muscle tissue (myocardium).

Classical symptoms of acute myocardial infarction include sudden chest pain (typically radiating to the left arm or left side of the neck), shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, and anxiety (often described as a sense of impending doom). Women may experience fewer typical symptoms than men, most commonly shortness of breath, weakness, a feeling of indigestion, and fatigue. Approximately one quarter of all myocardial infarctions are "silent", that is without chest pain or other symptoms.

Among the diagnostic tests available to detect heart muscle damage are an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, cardiac MRI and various blood tests. The most often used blood markers are the creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) fraction and the troponin levels. Immediate treatment for suspected acute myocardial infarction includes oxygen, aspirin, and sublingual nitroglycerin.

Most cases of STEMI (ST elevation MI) are treated with thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). NSTEMI (non-ST elevation MI) should be managed with medication, although PCI is often performed during hospital admission. In people who have multiple blockages and who are relatively stable, or in a few emergency cases, bypass surgery may be an option, especially in diabetics.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide. Important risk factors are previous cardiovascular disease, older age, tobacco smoking, high blood levels of certain lipids (triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein) and low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, excessive alcohol consumption, the abuse of certain drugs (such as cocaine and methamphetamine), and chronic high stress levels.

From : Wikipedia

Health Tips & Info : Classification Of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Or Heart Attack.

There are two basic types of acute myocardial infarction:

Transmural : associated with atherosclerosis involving major coronary artery. It can be subclassified into anterior, posterior, inferior, lateral or septal. Transmural infarcts extend through the whole thickness of the heart muscle and are usually a result of complete occlusion of the area's blood supply.

Subendocardial : involving a small area in the subendocardial wall of the left ventricle, ventricular septum, or papillary muscles. Subendocardial infarcts are thought to be a result of locally decreased blood supply, possibly from a narrowing of the coronary arteries. The subendocardial area is farthest from the heart's blood supply and is more susceptible to this type of pathology.

Clinically, a myocardial infarction can be further subclassified into a ST elevation MI (STEMI) versus a non-ST elevation MI (non-STEMI) based on ECG changes.

The phrase "heart attack" is sometimes used incorrectly to describe sudden cardiac death, which may or may not be the result of acute myocardial infarction. A heart attack is different from, but can be the cause of cardiac arrest, which is the stopping of the heartbeat, and cardiac arrhythmia, an abnormal heartbeat. It is also distinct from heart failure, in which the pumping action of the heart is impaired; severe myocardial infarction may lead to heart failure, but not necessarily.

A 2007 consensus document classifies myocardial infarction into five main types:

Type 1 – Spontaneous myocardial infarction related to ischaemia due to a primary coronary event such as plaque erosion and/or rupture, fissuring, or dissection.

Type 2 – Myocardial infarction secondary to ischaemia due to either increased oxygen demand or decreased supply, e.g. coronary artery spasm, coronary embolism, anaemia, arrhythmias, hypertension, or hypotension.

Type 3 – Sudden unexpected cardiac death, including cardiac arrest, often with symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischaemia, accompanied by presumably new ST elevation, or new LBBB, or evidence of fresh thrombus in a coronary artery by angiography and/or at autopsy, but death occurring before blood samples could be obtained, or at a time before the appearance of cardiac biomarkers in the blood.

Type 4 – Associated with coronary angioplasty or stents:

Type 4a – Myocardial infarction associated with PCI.

Type 4b – Myocardial infarction associated with stent thrombosis as documented by angiography or at autopsy.

Type 5 – Myocardial infarction associated with CABG.

From : Wikipedia

Health Tips & Info : Heart Rate Calculator – Your Guide To A Healthy Workout

Exercises that move the large muscle tissues of the body and increase the heart rate are referred to as cardiovascular workouts, also known as cardio. Examples of these are jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing and many more. Bear in mind that simple, short workouts are by any means better than no exercise at all. When you have become accustomed to exercising everyday, the next question is, how much intensity should you give in each workout?

A heart rate calculator is used by most exercisers, particularly athletes to check the intensity of their exercise. A heart rate calculator uses the Karnoven formula, which calculates a person’s exercise heart rate and helps estimate the right target heart rate zone. Developed by a Scandinavian physiologist, this formula uses the number known as heart rate reserve. The difference between a person’s maximum heart rate and resting heart rate is referred to as heart rate reserve (HRR). Resting heart rate (RHR) is the heart rate of a person when he is at rest. On the other hand, Max HR is the fastest rate the heart can beat for one minute.

Most experts suggest that you keep your heart rate at around 60 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate (Max HR). For exercisers, the way to calculate Max HR is by using the formula 220 minus age (220-age) multiplied by either 0.60 or 0.85. So if your age is 30, for instance, subtract 30 from 220, which would give you a Max HR of 190. Next, multiply the result by 60 to 85 percent of your Max HR, which would give you 114 or 162. Therefore, the 60 percent and 85 percent of your Max HR is 116 bpm and 162 bpm, respectively.

Should an individual decide to begin an exercise, the lower pecentage ( like sixty-percent ) should be used to compute for the target heart rate. This is especially true for starters. The lower number is used to avoid injury during exercise. For the Karnoven formula, the way to derive the target heart rate is by getting the difference between maximum heart rate and resting heart rate; then, multiply the result by sixty percent and add again to resting heart rate.

And so, given the example that you’re 30 years of age with a RHR of 65, this equation would give you a THR of 140 bpm. Subsequently, as you progress with your workout regimen, you might like to use the higher number ( eighty-five percent) to compute for your THR. Using the Karnoven equation, this would result to a THR of 171 bpm. Having at least 140 bpm until 171 bpm will give you the best health benefits during cardio workouts.

Nearly all exercisers reap some benefits from a heart rate calculator. There are plenty of heart rate calculators online that one can use to instantly get a person’s target heart rate. Knowing the Karnoven heart rate calculator by heart, however, helps you understand the rationale behind the equation and where these target heart rates are coming from.

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Health Tips And Info : Heart Rate Chart – An Introduction

Routine workouts are among the most effective methods of having a physically fit body and longer life. Increased physical activity helps prevent diseases of the heart such as coronary heart disease. It firms the muscles, improves strength, reduces stress, burn fats and boosts vitality.

Exercises that move the large muscles of the body and increase the heart rate are referred to as cardiovascular workouts, also known as cardio. Jogging, swimming, cycling and dancing are just some examples. Remember that doing short exercises are better than doing none at all.

Heart rate during the course of exercise is given special consideration by people who are intensely passionate about being fit and healthy. Maximum heart rate and target heart rate during workout are two things that exercisers truly care about. When they are at rest, the resting heart rate is more significant.

Heart rate chart is a simple, usually tabular, representation of heart rate data that exercisers may find really useful in their workouts. There are different kinds of heart rate charts. There’s a type of heart rate chart that makes it easier for exercisers to know their maximum heart rate (Max HR) and find the right target heart rate (THR) based on age. Because of heart rate charts, exercisers don’t have to trouble themselves with manual computation of Max HR and THR.

The resting heart rate chart is yet another type of heart rate chart. The heart rate of a person when he is at rest is called resting heart rate (RHR). Early morning is the best time to obtain RHR, just prior to getting out of bed. Experts say that a person’s resting heart rate reflects the overall health of a person’s heart and lungs. A resting heart rate chart is a straightforward chart that lets a person know if his RHR is within the ideal range.

In most cases, a low resting heart rate means that the heart and lungs are healthy. Heart rate charts are in all places of the World Wide Web. But then, it is always more preferred to seek the doctor’s advice before jumping on a certain cardio routine that is based on a heart rate chart. Heart rate charts must be used only as general guidelines because what they show, in general, are just figure averages.

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