You are currently viewing What Is A STEMI Heart Attack?

What Is A STEMI Heart Attack?

What Happens Prior And During The STEMI Heart Attack?

Difference Between STEMI And A Non-STEMI Heart Attack!

 

Heart attacks are a leading cause of suffering for millions of people each year. While some are mild and cause little more than temporary discomfort, others are much more serious. One of the most serious types of heart attack is called a STEMI, or ST-elevation myocardial infarction. It occurs when the blood supply to the heart is completely blocked. This can happen if one of the heart’s arteries becomes blocked either by a blood clot or plaque formation. When this happens, the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and begins to die. Symptoms of heart attack include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling faint or dizzy. If you think you may be having a heart attack, it is always advisable to reach out to an experienced cardiologist for immediate treatment.

What Happens Prior And During The STEMI Heart Attack?

A ST-elevation myocardial infarction heart attack is a serious, life-threatening type of heart attack. When someone has this heart attack, it means that a large area of their heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen. This is usually because one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart is blocked. During the heart attack, the heart muscle starts to die. This is because the blood flow to the heart is decreased and the oxygen supply is cut off. If the  heart attack is not treated quickly, it can lead to death. There are many things that happen prior to and during a heart attack. The symptoms may differ from person to person, but common symptoms include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort that feels like pressure or squeezing sensation in the center of the chest along with chest tightness and fullness.
  • Radiating pain towards the arms, shoulders, back, neck, and jaw.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Nausea and lightheadedness.
  • Sweating and anxiety.

Difference Between STEMI And A Non-STEMI Heart Attack!

There are two types of heart attacks: STEMI and non-STEMI. Both involve the blockage of an artery to the heart, but the difference lies in how much of the heart is affected.

  • STEMI – A STEMI heart attack is the more serious of the two because it is a total blockage of the artery. This means that the entire heart muscle is not receiving enough blood, and as a result, it is at risk of damage or death.
  • Non STEMI – A non-STEMI heart attack, on the other hand, is a partial blockage of the artery. While this is still a serious condition, it is not as severe as a STEMI heart attack because not the entire heart is affected.

Safe & Effective Treatment of STEMI By Highly Experienced, Board Certified Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Arun Hari!

The treatment for both types of heart attacks is pretty much similar. The primary goal of treatment is to be able to reopen the blocked artery as quickly as possible to restore normal blood flow to the heart. However, a STEMI heart attack requires more aggressive treatment because of the greater amount of damage that can occur for which you need to seek immediate help from a highly experienced interventional cardiologist such as Dr. Arun Hari. He is a leading cardiologist in India known for his skills and expertise in treating various types of heart conditions extremely safely and effectively using minimally invasive catheterization techniques, which have shown excellent results over the years in his professional practice.