[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Conditions](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/) › Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

[Conditions](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/) · [Chest](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/chest/)

# Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle when a coronary artery is blocked; it is a medical emergency.

Updated 2026-10-30

## Structures involved

Tap one to see what it is and open it in 3D.

- [Left ventricle](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/left-ventricle/)
- [Right ventricle](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/right-ventricle/)
- [LAD (anterior descending artery)](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/anterior-interventricular-artery/)
- [Right coronary artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/right-coronary-artery/)
- [Circumflex artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/circumflex-artery-of-heart/)

## In biochemistry

- [Prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis: Step 4 · Thromboxane A synthase (TBXAS1, CYP5A1)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/prostaglandin-and-thromboxane-synthesis/#paso-4)
- [Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/aspartate-aminotransferase/)
- [LDL receptor](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/ldl-receptor/)
- [PCSK9](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/pcsk9/)
- [LDL (low-density lipoprotein)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/ldl/)
- [Aminotransferases (ALT and AST) as lab tests](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/aminotransferases-as-lab-tests/)
- [Creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB as lab tests](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/creatine-kinase-and-ck-mb-as-lab-tests/)
- [Cardiac troponin as a lab test](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/cardiac-troponin-as-a-lab-test/)
- [Eicosanoids: prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/eicosanoids-prostaglandins-thromboxanes-and-leukotrienes/)
- [Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a lab marker](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/lactate-dehydrogenase-as-a-lab-marker/)
- [Myoglobin](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/myoglobin/)
- [Prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/prostaglandin-h/)
- [Thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/thromboxane-a/)
- [Isoenzymes](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/isoenzymes/)
- [HMG-CoA reductase](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/hmg-coa-reductase/)
- [Cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/cyclooxygenase/)

## In histology

- [Cardiac muscle: intercalated discs](https://durgical.com/en/histology/cardiac-muscle-intercalated-discs/)
- [Muscle injury, repair and satellite cells](https://durgical.com/en/histology/muscle-injury-repair-and-satellite-cells/)
- [Cell injury, apoptosis and necrosis](https://durgical.com/en/histology/cell-injury-apoptosis-and-necrosis/)

## In the clinical exam

- [Heart failure syndrome: left- and right-sided signs](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/heart-failure-syndrome-left-and-right-sided-signs/)
- [Shock: the clinical signs and the types](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/shock-the-clinical-signs-and-the-types/)
- [Chest pain: ischemic, pericardial, pleural and other patterns](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/chest-pain-ischemic-pericardial-pleural-and-other-patterns/)
- [Analysing a symptom: onset, site, character, radiation and more](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/analysing-a-symptom-onset-site-character-radiation-and-more/)

## In physiology

- [The cardiac conduction system](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/the-cardiac-conduction-system/)
- [ECG basics: waves, intervals and leads](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/ecg-basics-waves-intervals-and-leads/)
- [Shock physiology](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/shock-physiology/)
- [How arrhythmias arise](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/how-arrhythmias-arise/)
- [Heart failure physiology](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/heart-failure-physiology/)
- [The cardiac electrical axis](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/the-cardiac-electrical-axis/)
- [The ECG in ischemia and infarction](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/the-ecg-in-ischemia-and-infarction/)
- [Coronary circulation and myocardial ischemia](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/coronary-circulation-and-myocardial-ischemia/)
- [Visceral and referred pain](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/visceral-and-referred-pain/)

## Why it happens

- [Infarction: red vs white, and what decides the damage](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/infarction-red-vs-white-and-what-decides-the-damage/)
- [The myocardial infarct over time: what the pathologist sees from hours to months](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/the-myocardial-infarct-over-time-what-the-pathologist-sees-from-hours-to-months/)
- [Tissue repair: regeneration or scar; labile, stable and permanent cells](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/tissue-repair-regeneration-or-scar-labile-stable-and-permanent-cells/)
- [Granulation tissue and scar formation](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/granulation-tissue-and-scar-formation/)
- [Reversible vs irreversible cell injury: the point of no return](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/reversible-vs-irreversible-cell-injury-the-point-of-no-return/)
- [Mechanisms of cell injury: ATP, mitochondria, calcium, membranes and DNA](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/mechanisms-of-cell-injury-atp-mitochondria-calcium-membranes-and-dna/)

## Show 14 more

- [Hypoxia, ischemia and reperfusion injury](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/hypoxia-ischemia-and-reperfusion-injury/)
- [Patterns of necrosis: coagulative, liquefactive, caseous, fat, fibrinoid, gangrenous](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/patterns-of-necrosis-coagulative-liquefactive-caseous-fat-fibrinoid-gangrenous/)
- [Apoptosis vs necrosis: the comparison table](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/apoptosis-vs-necrosis-the-comparison-table/)
- [Thrombosis and Virchow's triad](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/thrombosis-and-virchow-s-triad/)
- [The autopsy: clinical and medicolegal](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/the-autopsy-clinical-and-medicolegal/)
- [Causes of cell injury](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/causes-of-cell-injury/)
- [Arterial vs venous thrombi; mural thrombi and lines of Zahn](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/arterial-vs-venous-thrombi-mural-thrombi-and-lines-of-zahn/)
- [Systemic (arterial) thromboembolism](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/systemic-thromboembolism/)
- [Watershed areas and the organs most sensitive to ischemia](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/watershed-areas-and-the-organs-most-sensitive-to-ischemia/)
- [Oxidative stress and free-radical injury](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oxidative-stress-and-free-radical-injury/)
- [Other forms of cell death: necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/other-forms-of-cell-death-necroptosis-pyroptosis-ferroptosis/)
- [Drugs of abuse: cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, cannabis](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/drugs-of-abuse-cocaine-opioids-amphetamines-cannabis/)
- [Fibrosis in organs: TGF-β and the myofibroblast](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/fibrosis-in-organs-tgf-and-the-myofibroblast/)
- [Tobacco: how smoking injures tissue](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/tobacco-how-smoking-injures-tissue/)

## What it is

Death of heart muscle due to prolonged lack of blood supply, usually from a blocked coronary artery. It is a medical emergency.

## Who gets it

Most cardiovascular deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. A 2022 meta-analysis of studies from Latin America and the Caribbean since 2000 found an in-hospital mortality of 9.9% for ST-elevation infarction, higher than in high-income countries; mortality was lower where more patients received reperfusion therapy.

## Causes

- Atherosclerotic plaque rupture with thrombus
- Coronary artery spasm or embolism (less common)

## Symptoms and signs

- [Chest](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/chest/) pain or pressure (may radiate to arm, jaw, back)
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea, sweating, light-headedness
- Some patients (especially women, older adults, people with diabetes) have atypical symptoms

## Diagnosis

**Clinical**
History and exam

**Tests**
ECG changes, cardiac biomarkers (troponin)

**Imaging**
Echocardiography, coronary angiography

## Treatment

**Acute**
Immediate reperfusion (PCI preferred when available) or thrombolysis, plus antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy.

**Medical**
Medicines to reduce further risk.

**Rehabilitation**
Cardiac rehabilitation.

**Lifestyle**
Lifestyle changes.

## Drugs for this condition

- [Acetylsalicylic acid](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/acetylsalicylic-acid/)
- [Morphine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/morphine/)
- [Heparin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/heparin/)
- [Metoprolol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/metoprolol/)
- [Atenolol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/atenolol/)
- [Captopril](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/captopril/)
- [Carvedilol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/carvedilol/)
- [Lisinopril](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/lisinopril/)
- [Valsartan](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/valsartan/)
- [Ramipril](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ramipril/)
- [Telmisartan](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/telmisartan/)
- [Clopidogrel](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/clopidogrel/)
- [Enoxaparin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/enoxaparin/)
- [Ticagrelor](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ticagrelor/)
- [Argatroban](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/argatroban/)
- [Bivalirudin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/bivalirudin/)
- [Prasugrel](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/prasugrel/)
- [Eptifibatide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/eptifibatide/)
- [Tirofiban](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/tirofiban/)
- [Dalteparin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/dalteparin/)
- [Abciximab](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/abciximab/)
- [Alteplase](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/alteplase/)
- [Tenecteplase](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/tenecteplase/)
- [Reteplase](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/reteplase/)
- [Streptokinase](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/streptokinase/)
- [Atorvastatin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/atorvastatin/)
- [Simvastatin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/simvastatin/)
- [Rosuvastatin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/rosuvastatin/)
- [Pravastatin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/pravastatin/)
- [Evolocumab](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/evolocumab/)

## Related conditions

- [Acute mesenteric ischaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-mesenteric-ischaemia/)
- [Peripheral artery disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/peripheral-artery-disease/)
- [Acute limb ischaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-limb-ischaemia/)
- [Aortic dissection](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/aortic-dissection/)
- [Type 2 diabetes mellitus](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/type-2-diabetes-mellitus/)
- [Arterial hypertension](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/arterial-hypertension/)
- [Atherosclerosis and dyslipidaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/atherosclerosis-and-dyslipidaemia/)
- [Metabolic syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/metabolic-syndrome/)

Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: [Myocardial Infarction](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537076/) (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024); [Hospital Mortality from Myocardial Infarction in Latin America and the Caribbean: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis](https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9814809) (Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia, 2022) · adapted, [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/conditions/myocardial-infarction/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/conditions/myocardial-infarction/