Aa
Post MI damages
Just curious here - if someone has a heart attack (mild or even silent) does it show up months or even years later on some tests? I read about folks that go in for something and are told "looks like you had a heart attack in the past" and they had no idea. What does a doctor see that tells of a past heart attack? I understand going in and having blood work showing you're in heart attack mode but what shows months later?
I do not know much about the condition.It is understood that mine is a problem with the left ventricle .It is diagnosed as AWMI.Please enlighten me on this.No invasive procedures have been resorted to.I am on a number of medicines.An year has passed since the lonset of cardiac problem.I am asymptomatic except for occasional spells of fatigue and mild breathlessness.
What is the underlying cause for the heart wall impairment? Hypokenisis or akenisis? Enlarged LV?
Post MI how much progress could you make as regards EF.Mine was just 27% and an year has passed since the cardiac attack.A recent Echo shows 30% as ejection fraction.Willi improve further if only medications are relied upon.
Yes, thank you, it was a shock. I thought the problem was pulmonary due to working in drywalling sanding environment without a mask. I recovered quickly after 3-4 days in ICU, stent implant and with medication I feel fine for the past 5 years although I have moderate to severe MVR.
The event may have saved my life as my LV was enlarged, MVR, and an EF 14-29%. Left untreated the enlarged heart could have eventually caused a life-threatening arrhythmia and cardiac arrest.
The event may have saved my life as my LV was enlarged, MVR, and an EF 14-29%. Left untreated the enlarged heart could have eventually caused a life-threatening arrhythmia and cardiac arrest.
Thank you. This helps me to understand it a bit. I have heard of STEMI and NSTEMI (ST elevation MI's and non ST elevation MI's). Just been trying to sort out things I read from folks that get that news after an EKG that they may have had an MI in the past but had no clue. None of this applies to me but I've just been wondering about it.
So kenkeith, they think your CHF was probably a result of past MI's? What a nasty shock for you. Hope you're feeling good and it's being managed well. Take care.
So kenkeith, they think your CHF was probably a result of past MI's? What a nasty shock for you. Hope you're feeling good and it's being managed well. Take care.
I had no symptoms until CHF. Chest X-ray showed enlarged heart, aorta is tortuous, and there was pulmonary venous congestion, postive blood test, abnormal EKG, etc. My source indicates about one-quarter of all heart attacks occur without producing any identifiable symptoms. These so-called "silent" heart attacks may only be discovered incidentally by examination of an EKG or by other heart test.
It is true many abnormal patterns on an EKG may be non-specific, meaning that they may be observed with a variety of different conditions. They may even be a normal variant and not reflect any abnormality at all. Apparently, these conditions can often be sorted out by a physician with a detailed examination, and occasionally other cardiac tests (for example, echocardiogram, exercise stress test).
During a heart attack, an EKG shows very specific changes, and there's a segment of the electrocardiogram where the changes are very striking. The change is in the ST segments and T waves. It is referred to as ST elevation, and it is a segment in the electrocardiogram where there is a very abrupt change. Nothing else commonly causes it.
It is true many abnormal patterns on an EKG may be non-specific, meaning that they may be observed with a variety of different conditions. They may even be a normal variant and not reflect any abnormality at all. Apparently, these conditions can often be sorted out by a physician with a detailed examination, and occasionally other cardiac tests (for example, echocardiogram, exercise stress test).
During a heart attack, an EKG shows very specific changes, and there's a segment of the electrocardiogram where the changes are very striking. The change is in the ST segments and T waves. It is referred to as ST elevation, and it is a segment in the electrocardiogram where there is a very abrupt change. Nothing else commonly causes it.
So you're talking echo that may show ischemia that ties in with heart damage and impaired heart wall movement. I think I'm following this. I understand the "stunned"cells because that sometimes happens with catheter ablations too. They burn the offending area, think it's solved the problem only to have the arrhythmia reappear.
Do you think EKG's are a good indicator of previous heart attacks? Too often someone will go in, have an EKG done, it's "read" with a computer program and they patient is told it looks like they had an MI in the past only to find out later, that's not so. I understand the computer generated report tends to pick up on anything, any little abnormal blip and say it may be this or that. It really takes an experienced cardiologist to tell the difference between an artifact and a bad heart rhythm. That's why I question the accuracy of EKG's in this case.
Do you think EKG's are a good indicator of previous heart attacks? Too often someone will go in, have an EKG done, it's "read" with a computer program and they patient is told it looks like they had an MI in the past only to find out later, that's not so. I understand the computer generated report tends to pick up on anything, any little abnormal blip and say it may be this or that. It really takes an experienced cardiologist to tell the difference between an artifact and a bad heart rhythm. That's why I question the accuracy of EKG's in this case.
If one has diabetes and/or an older individuals there may be no angina with ischemia resulting in damaging heart cells. Damaged heart cells can cause hypokinesis (impaired heart wall movement) and/or akinesis (necrotic cells) and no wall movement.
Hypokinesis and akinesis will show with an echo and dx would be a prior MI.
Sometimes ischemic hypokinesis can be successfully treated by opening the vessels that feed into the oxygen/blood deficit area. The heart cells that are vivitalized are referred medicaly as hibernating cells. Sometimes "stunned" cells from an acute MI can be revitalized if successfully treated within a very short time period.
You may find more information if you google heart cell hibernation.
Hypokinesis and akinesis will show with an echo and dx would be a prior MI.
Sometimes ischemic hypokinesis can be successfully treated by opening the vessels that feed into the oxygen/blood deficit area. The heart cells that are vivitalized are referred medicaly as hibernating cells. Sometimes "stunned" cells from an acute MI can be revitalized if successfully treated within a very short time period.
You may find more information if you google heart cell hibernation.
Lulama - always good to see you. Hope you're doing well. When you say they "see" it, can it be seen on an EKG or only through an angiogram?
Encephalo - I've heard of a silent heart attack; not sure if there are any symptoms with that type. Yes, I know some folks think they have indigestion but it turns out to be heart. Funny how minor symptoms can result in heart damage and others go in to ER with major symptoms and have no heart involvement at all. Tricky, isn't it?
Thanks to both of you. I tried to google post MI damage and symptoms but only came up with things related to hours after an MI.
Encephalo - I've heard of a silent heart attack; not sure if there are any symptoms with that type. Yes, I know some folks think they have indigestion but it turns out to be heart. Funny how minor symptoms can result in heart damage and others go in to ER with major symptoms and have no heart involvement at all. Tricky, isn't it?
Thanks to both of you. I tried to google post MI damage and symptoms but only came up with things related to hours after an MI.
Yes, if a person has a heart attack and there is heart damage it will show up. A person can, however, have a small heart attack and the heart muscle can recover. Sometimes a person does not know if they are having a heart attack and simply think it's indigestion.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.
