How to recognize and manage the early symptoms of myocardial infarction?

  In fact, about 70% of patients with myocardial infarction have aura symptoms.  The main symptoms are: (1) sudden onset of angina pectoris in patients without previous angina pectoris, or sudden and marked aggravation of the attack in patients with pre-existing angina pectoris. It is often manifested as a sudden onset of severe and persistent posterior sternal or precordial crushing pain, and in a few patients it can be manifested as a tightening sensation in the throat, pain in the jaw, tooth pain, pain in the left upper limb or subxiphoid pain, which cannot be relieved by rest or nitroglycerin, often accompanied by irritability, sweating, fear or a sense of near death.  (2) The possibility of myocardial infarction should be thought of when patients with coronary artery disease or the elderly suddenly develop unexplained arrhythmias, heart failure, shock or syncope.  Once the above symptoms occur, must be taken seriously, the patient should first lie down, keep quiet, avoid excessive mental tension; no hypotensive state can be sublingual nitroglycerin or spray inhalation nitroglycerin, if not relieved, after 5 minutes can contain another piece. Go to the hospital after the angina is relieved. If chest pain is not relieved for 20 minutes or severe chest pain with nausea, vomiting, dyspnea and syncope, call an ambulance to take to the hospital.  The onset of acute myocardial infarction is sudden and should be detected and treated early, and pre-hospital treatment should be enhanced. The principles of treatment are to save the dying myocardium, reduce the infarcted area, protect the heart function, and promptly manage various complications.  Reperfusion therapy is the most important treatment for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Opening the occluded coronary artery and restoring blood flow within 12 hours of onset can reduce the size of myocardial infarction and reduce death. The earlier the coronary artery is recanalized, the greater the benefit to the patient. “Time is myocardium and time is life”. Therefore, a diagnosis must be made as soon as possible after consultation for all patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and a strategy for reperfusion therapy must be made as soon as possible. In hospitals where emergency PCI is available, all patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction within 12 hours of onset should undergo direct PCI with balloon dilation for coronary artery recanalization and stent placement if necessary, provided that the first balloon dilation can be completed within 90 minutes of the patient’s arrival at the hospital. Therefore, patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction should be seen at a hospital with PCI if possible. If emergency PCT is not available, or if the first balloon dilation cannot be completed within 90 minutes, patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction within 12 hours of onset should be treated with thrombolytic therapy if the patient has no contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. Commonly used thrombolytic agents include urokinase, streptokinase, and recombinant tissue-type fibrinogen activator (rt-PA), which are administered intravenously. The main complication of thrombolytic therapy is hemorrhage, the most serious being cerebral hemorrhage. It is still advisable to transfer to a hospital with PCI for further treatment after thrombolytic therapy.  Secondary prevention must be done after myocardial infarction to prevent recurrence of myocardial infarction. Patients should have a reasonable diet (low-fat, low-cholesterol diet), quit smoking, limit alcohol, exercise moderately, and have a balanced mind. Insist on taking anti-platelet drugs (such as aspirin), beta blockers, statin lipid regulators and ACEI preparations, controlling risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, and regular review.