Types of heart attacks
Acute coronary syndrome refers to three types of coronary artery disease related to the mechanism of a heart attack.
Here are three types of heart attacks to watch out for:
ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)
Among the types of heart attacks, STEMI is a major one that occurs when the coronary artery is completely blocked. On an electrocardiogram, this will present as a ST-segment elevation.These usually occur at sites affected by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic arteries are usually prone to spasms.
Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI)
In NSTEMI, affected coronary arteries are partially blocked. On an electrocardiogram, these do not present with ST-elevation, but there will likewise be elevations of cardiac enzymes (marker of cardiac injury).
Unstable Angina
This refers to the type of coronary artery syndrome that is due to a coronary spasm. It is not as common as the other two types of heart attacks.
This manifests with the usual symptoms of a heart attack, however, it is not so severe as to cause changes in your ECG or cause elevations in cardiac enzymes.
All three types of heart attacks are equally common. NSTEMI & UA are not distinguishable at first, only ECG and cardiac enzymes distinguishes one from the other.
Risk factors for heart attacks
Aside from knowing the types of heart attacks, it’s also important to know what predisposes us for it in the first place. There are several major risk factors in the development of a heart attack:
Modifiable risk factors
It is important to note that patients with a combination of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes have a condition termed “Metabolic Syndrome” and are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
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