Hemostasis Today
NewsFeed
Headlines Hematology Health Medicine VTE ASH Plasma Donation
September, 2026
September 2026
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
Short and Informative About Myocardial Infarction by Nassim Emteir: What is It and What to Do
Nassim Emteir/LinkedIn
Dec 13, 2025, 07:50

Short and Informative About Myocardial Infarction by Nassim Emteir: What is It and What to Do

Nassim Emteir, Consultant in internal medicine and emergency at Gesundheitszentrum Fricktal AG, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“What is MI (Myocardial Infarction)?
MI = Heart Attack.

It happens when blood flow to the heart muscle suddenly reduces or stops, causing damage or death of heart muscle (myocardium).
How MI Forms (Pathophysiology in 5 Easy Steps)

  1. Atherosclerosis develops
    Fat + cholesterol + calcium = plaque
    This plaque forms inside coronary arteries (arteries supplying heart).
  2. Plaque ruptures
    Due to stress, hypertension, smoking, diabetes etc.
    The plaque cracks or ruptures.
  3. Thrombus (blood clot) forms
    After rupture → body releases clotting factors → clot blocks the artery.
  4. Blood supply stops
    Heart muscle doesn’t get oxygen.
  5. Muscle death
    20–40 minutes → cells begin to die.
    This dead tissue = infarction.

This entire process = Myocardial Infarction.
Types of MI (Clear Explanation)

  1. STEMI (ST-Elevation MI)
    Complete blockage of coronary artery
    Serious emergency
    ECG shows ST elevation
    Troponin = Elevated
    Severe damage to heart muscle
  2. NSTEMI (Non-ST-Elevation MI)
    Partial blockage
    ECG: No ST elevation, but may show ST depression/T wave changes
    Troponin = Elevated
    Less severe than STEMI but still dangerous

Universal Classification – 5 Types of MI (Important for Coding)

Type 1 MI – Spontaneous MI (MOST COMMON)
Cause:

Plaque rupture
Thrombus formation
Atherosclerosis
Example: Typical heart attack in adults.

Type 2 MI – Supply–Demand Mismatch
Cause: Imbalance between oxygen supply and demand

Not due to plaque rupture.

Examples:
Severe anemia
Sepsis
Tachyarrhythmia
Hypotension
Hypoxia

Type 3 MI – Sudden Cardiac Death
Patient dies before biomarkers are detected.

Symptoms + ECG + suspected MI.

Type 4a MI – MI due to PCI (Post-PCI MI)
Occurs after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Caused by:
Vessel dissection
Side branch loss
Complications during PCI

Type 4b MI – Stent Thrombosis
After stent placement, clot forms inside stent.

Type 5 MI – CABG-related MI
Occurs after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting surgery.

MI Symptoms (Classic Signs)
Chest pain (pressure, squeezing, crushing)
Pain radiating to left arm, shoulder, jaw
Sweating, nausea
Shortness of breath
Dizziness

Risk Factors for MI
Smoking
Diabetes
Hypertension
High cholesterol
Obesity
Family history
Stress
Sedentary lifestyle

MI Diagnosis (Simple)
ECG (STEMI / NSTEMI)
Troponin levels (elevated in MI)
Coronary angiography
Echocardiogram

Treatment Overview
STEMI
Immediate reperfusion

  • PCI
  • Thrombolytics
  • Aspirin, Heparin

NSTEMI
Antiplatelets
Heparin
Risk-based PCI”

Short and Informative About Myocardial Infarction by Nassim Emteir: What is It and What to Do

Follow the latest in Hemostasis Today.

Atherosclerosis Health Heart Attack Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis Today Medicine MI (Myocardial Infarction) Nassim Emteir NSTEMI (Non-ST-Elevation MI) Plaque STEMI (ST-Elevation MI) thrombus
NewsFeed