Understanding Myocardial Infarction (MI)

[Pat]

Hi,

I am a new member in this discussion group would greatly help
understanding Myocardial Infarction (MI).

Last month my father passed away at the age of 65 and the family is
going thruough very difficult time. He had a heart attack and
cardiologist's report described it as actute an Myocardial Infarction
(MI).

My father never complained about any chest pain. Overall he was pretty
healthy and physically active. Right before one week, he had his EKG
done and it came out normal. He had no blood pressure problem, Chest
Discomfort, chest pain and any other medical problems and so this was
a big shock to our family.
So far my understanding was patients always had some indication - like
Chest Discomfort or chest pain - before heart attack. But in his case,
it was a sudden heart attack.

My questions are:
1) Does anybody here know about this kind of heart attack where you do
not have chest pain / discomfort etc well in advance - say a few week
before the heart attack?

2) Is Myocardial Infarction (MI) just a medical term for heart attack?

3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.

I'll greatly appreciate your help on the above questions.

Thanks,
Pat

[Bill]

"Pat" <pat10036@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c03bf2a4.0311282009.29101fff@posting.google.com...
> Hi,
>
> I am a new member in this discussion group would greatly help
> understanding Myocardial Infarction (MI).
>
> Last month my father passed away at the age of 65 and the family is
> going thruough very difficult time. He had a heart attack and
> cardiologist's report described it as actute an Myocardial Infarction
> (MI).
>
> My father never complained about any chest pain. Overall he was pretty
> healthy and physically active. Right before one week, he had his EKG
> done and it came out normal. He had no blood pressure problem, Chest
> Discomfort, chest pain and any other medical problems and so this was
> a big shock to our family.
> So far my understanding was patients always had some indication - like
> Chest Discomfort or chest pain - before heart attack. But in his case,
> it was a sudden heart attack.
>
> My questions are:
> 1) Does anybody here know about this kind of heart attack where you do
> not have chest pain / discomfort etc well in advance - say a few week
> before the heart attack?
>
> 2) Is Myocardial Infarction (MI) just a medical term for heart attack?
>
> 3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
> death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.
>
> I'll greatly appreciate your help on the above questions.
>
> Thanks,
> Pat

I am sorry for your loss. I'm not a Dr. Let me try to explain in layman's
terms, and I'm sure one of the Drs. here will give a better answer or correct
me if I'm wrong. Yes, all of what you describe is possible and, in fact, not
uncommon. Also, MI = heart attack.

The mechanism in this case was probably as follows: Prior to the event, there
was some blockage in some of the arteries but not enough to deprive the heart
muscle of blood needed to function normally - thus the EKG, which measures
electrical activity in the heart, would show nothing. Also he apparently had
not had any prior heart attacks - even silent ones - which the EKG would show.
Suddenly a lose plaque (from a blockage) bursts and spews stuff out. This
plaque probably got stuck in a major artery very high up and caused 100%
blockage or close. Since a major part of the heart was now no longer getting
blood flow, it could not function.

If blockages are further down the artery, not 100%, and/ or other vessels
(called collaterals) are able to fill in then you may experience chest pain
but not sudden death.

You did not mention cholesterol. Do you know what it was?

Bill

[Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD]

Pat wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am a new member in this discussion group would greatly help
> understanding Myocardial Infarction (MI).
>
> Last month my father passed away at the age of 65 and the family is
> going thruough very difficult time. He had a heart attack and
> cardiologist's report described it as actute an Myocardial Infarction
> (MI).
>
> My father never complained about any chest pain.

Even during the heart attack? Was he taking a daily aspirin at the time
of his heart attack?

> Overall he was pretty
> healthy and physically active. Right before one week, he had his EKG
> done and it came out normal. He had no blood pressure problem, Chest
> Discomfort, chest pain and any other medical problems and so this was
> a big shock to our family.

Understandably.

>
> So far my understanding was patients always had some indication - like
> Chest Discomfort or chest pain - before heart attack.

That would be incorrect. Moreover, about 25% will have no chest
discomfort even during the heart attack.

> But in his case,
> it was a sudden heart attack.
>
> My questions are:
> 1) Does anybody here know about this kind of heart attack where you do
> not have chest pain / discomfort etc well in advance - say a few week
> before the heart attack?
>

If your father's EKG were truly normal one week before a heart attack, it
makes it less likely your father had a "silent" heart attack 3 weeks prior
to *the* heart attack.

>
> 2) Is Myocardial Infarction (MI) just a medical term for heart attack?

Yes.

>
> 3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
> death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.

See above.

>
> I'll greatly appreciate your help on the above questions.
>
> Thanks,
> Pat

You are welcome. Sorry for your loss. Also, my condolences to your
family especially this time of year. You and yours will be in my prayers
that you receive strength.


Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

[mena]

"Bill" <xxx@yy.zz> wrote in message
news:ZXVxb.32125$g96.26089@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Pat" <pat10036@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:c03bf2a4.0311282009.29101fff@posting.google.com...
Pat wrote:
*snipped*
> > 3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.
>
Bill wrote:
*snipped*
there was some blockage in some of the arteries but not enough to deprive
the heart
muscle of blood needed to function normally - thus the EKG, which measures
electrical activity in the heart, would show nothing



Pat,
My condolences to you and your family for your loss.
I agree with Bill. I had an MI at age 49. I was fortunate that I had
symptoms for several days prior. While I was in the ED, having the MI, the
EKG results were normal. The doctor who examined me was trying to brush me
off, stating that he thought that I was having esophageal spasms. A very
concerned and astute resident called in a cardiology consult. He saved my
life. I had 3 blockages, which were removed by an angioplasty.

[Pat]

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <andrew@heartmdphd.com> wrote in message news:<3FC8B1F0.F642C0BB@heartmdphd.com>...
> Pat wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am a new member in this discussion group would greatly help
> > understanding Myocardial Infarction (MI).
> >
> > Last month my father passed away at the age of 65 and the family is
> > going thruough very difficult time. He had a heart attack and
> > cardiologist's report described it as actute an Myocardial Infarction
> > (MI).
> >
> > My father never complained about any chest pain.
>
> Even during the heart attack? Was he taking a daily aspirin at the time
> of his heart attack?

No, He did complain about chest pain on the day he had heart attack.
What I meant was he never complained about chest pain before the heart
attack. He was not taking aspirin at the time of his heart attack.

>
> > Overall he was pretty
> > healthy and physically active. Right before one week, he had his EKG
> > done and it came out normal. He had no blood pressure problem, Chest
> > Discomfort, chest pain and any other medical problems and so this was
> > a big shock to our family.
>
> Understandably.
>
> >
> > So far my understanding was patients always had some indication - like
> > Chest Discomfort or chest pain - before heart attack.
>
> That would be incorrect. Moreover, about 25% will have no chest
> discomfort even during the heart attack.
>
> > But in his case,
> > it was a sudden heart attack.
> >
> > My questions are:
> > 1) Does anybody here know about this kind of heart attack where you do
> > not have chest pain / discomfort etc well in advance - say a few week
> > before the heart attack?
> >
>
> If your father's EKG were truly normal one week before a heart attack, it
> makes it less likely your father had a "silent" heart attack 3 weeks prior
> to *the* heart attack.
>
> >
> > 2) Is Myocardial Infarction (MI) just a medical term for heart attack?
>
> Yes.
>
> >
> > 3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
> > death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.
>
> See above.
>
> >
> > I'll greatly appreciate your help on the above questions.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Pat
>
> You are welcome. Sorry for your loss. Also, my condolences to your
> family especially this time of year. You and yours will be in my prayers
> that you receive strength.
>
Thank you very much for your condolences. I greatly appreciate your
kindness and prayers. Thank you very much for your help to understand
MI.

>
> Humbly,
>
> Andrew

[Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD]

pat10036@yahoo.com (Pat) wrote in message news:<c03bf2a4.0311291612.73dbf5f8@posting.google.com>...
> "Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <andrew@heartmdphd.com> wrote in message news:<3FC8B1F0.F642C0BB@heartmdphd.com>...
> > Pat wrote:
> >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am a new member in this discussion group would greatly help
> > > understanding Myocardial Infarction (MI).
> > >
> > > Last month my father passed away at the age of 65 and the family is
> > > going thruough very difficult time. He had a heart attack and
> > > cardiologist's report described it as actute an Myocardial Infarction
> > > (MI).
> > >
> > > My father never complained about any chest pain.
> >
> > Even during the heart attack? Was he taking a daily aspirin at the time
> > of his heart attack?
>
> No, He did complain about chest pain on the day he had heart attack.
> What I meant was he never complained about chest pain before the heart
> attack. He was not taking aspirin at the time of his heart attack.

Sorry to hear he was not taking aspirin. The odds would have been
better for him, had he been.

> > > Overall he was pretty
> > > healthy and physically active. Right before one week, he had his EKG
> > > done and it came out normal. He had no blood pressure problem, Chest
> > > Discomfort, chest pain and any other medical problems and so this was
> > > a big shock to our family.
> >
> > Understandably.
> >
> > >
> > > So far my understanding was patients always had some indication - like
> > > Chest Discomfort or chest pain - before heart attack.
> >
> > That would be incorrect. Moreover, about 25% will have no chest
> > discomfort even during the heart attack.
> >
> > > But in his case,
> > > it was a sudden heart attack.
> > >
> > > My questions are:
> > > 1) Does anybody here know about this kind of heart attack where you do
> > > not have chest pain / discomfort etc well in advance - say a few week
> > > before the heart attack?
> > >
> >
> > If your father's EKG were truly normal one week before a heart attack, it
> > makes it less likely your father had a "silent" heart attack 3 weeks prior
> > to *the* heart attack.
> >
> > >
> > > 2) Is Myocardial Infarction (MI) just a medical term for heart attack?
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> > >
> > > 3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
> > > death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.
> >
> > See above.
> >
> > >
> > > I'll greatly appreciate your help on the above questions.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Pat
> >
> > You are welcome. Sorry for your loss. Also, my condolences to your
> > family especially this time of year. You and yours will be in my prayers
> > that you receive strength.
> >
> Thank you very much for your condolences. I greatly appreciate your
> kindness and prayers. Thank you very much for your help to understand
> MI.

You are very welcome.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

[J. Chris Tilton]

"Pat" <pat10036@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c03bf2a4.0311282009.29101fff@posting.google.com...
> Hi,
>
> Last month my father passed away at the age of 65 and the family is
> going thruough very difficult time. He had a heart attack and
> cardiologist's report described it as actute an Myocardial Infarction
> (MI).
>
> My father never complained about any chest pain. Overall he was pretty
> healthy and physically active. Right before one week, he had his EKG
> done and it came out normal. He had no blood pressure problem, Chest
> Discomfort, chest pain and any other medical problems and so this was
> a big shock to our family.
> So far my understanding was patients always had some indication - like
> Chest Discomfort or chest pain - before heart attack. But in his case,
> it was a sudden heart attack.
>
> My questions are:
> 1) Does anybody here know about this kind of heart attack where you do
> not have chest pain / discomfort etc well in advance - say a few week
> before the heart attack?

Yes, that is exactly what happened to me. I was 40 years old. Was lifting
weights 2 times per week and just finished playing in a summer basketball
league that played outdoors on blacktop. I had an EKG like 1 year before
the M I and it was OK. So there was zero warning that there were any
problems at all. Now I tell everyone that if you are over 30 you need to
have your cholesterol checked.

>
> 2) Is Myocardial Infarction (MI) just a medical term for heart attack?

The doctors can answer better than me, but I always tell folks that I had a
heart attack.
>
> 3) Why his EKG was normal eventhough taken just one week before his
> death? I would think that EKG should have shown some pattern.
>
> I'll greatly appreciate your help on the above questions.
>
> Thanks,
> Pat