Myocardial Infarction

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Your heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. The blood vessels that supply blood to your heart muscle are called coronary arteries. Sometimes one or more of the coronary arteries become too narrowed, completely blocked, or spasms (tightens). This causes part of the heart muscle to not get enough oxygen-rich blood that it needs to do its work. If the muscle goes too long without oxygen, it starts to die. This is called a myocardial (meye-oh-KAR-dee-al) infarction (in-FARK-shun), which is also called an MI or a heart attack. Treatments for an MI may include heart medicines, oxygen, and special procedures such as angioplasty or heart surgery.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver.
  
  
• Aspirin: You may need to take an aspirin a day to help prevent heart problems. Aspirin helps to prevent blood clots from forming and causing blood flow problems in the heart. If caregivers want you to take aspirin daily, do not take acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead. Do not take more or less aspirin than caregivers say to take. If you are on other blood thinner medicine, ask your caregiver before you take aspirin for any reason.
  
  
• Blood thinners: Blood thinners are medicines that help prevent clots from forming in the blood. Clots can cause strokes, heart attacks, and death. Blood thinners may cause you to bleed or bruise more easily. Do the following if you are taking a blood thinner:
  
  
  • Watch for bleeding from your gums or nose, or in your urine or BMs.
    
    
  • Use a soft washcloth on your skin and a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth. Doing this can keep your skin and gums from bleeding.
    
    
  • Tell your dentist before dental cleanings, and other caregivers before other procedures, that you take blood thinning medicine.
    
    
  • If you shave, use an electric shaver.
    
    
  • Do not play contact sports since you may bleed or bruise easily.
    
    
  • Wear a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace that says you are taking a blood thinner medicine. You may get one from your local drugstore or contact the MedicAlert Foundation.
  
  
• Cholesterol medicine: This type of medicine is given to help decrease (lower) the amount of cholesterol (fat) in your blood. Cholesterol medicine works best if you also exercise and eat a healthy diet that is low in certain kinds of fats. Some cholesterol medicines may cause liver problems. You may need to have blood taken for tests while using this medicine.
  
  
• Heart medicine: This medicine may be given to make your heart beat stronger or more regularly. There are many different kinds of heart medicines. Talk with your caregiver to find out what your medicine is and why you are taking it.
  
  
• Nitroglycerin: This medicine may also be called nitro.
  
  
  • Nitroglycerin opens the arteries to your heart so the heart gets more oxygen. After taking nitroglycerin, your pain may get better or go away. Nitroglycerin may give you a headache or make you dizzy. Make sure you are sitting or lying down when you take your nitroglycerin. Also, get up slowly after taking nitroglycerin.
    
    
  • You may get your nitroglycerin as a pill. It also can be put on your body as a patch or paste. If you are taking nitroglycerin pills, put the nitroglycerin pill under your tongue. It slowly melts and moves into your blood. If you are using a nitroglycerin patch or paste, put the patch or paste on your chest, arm, or back. The medicine soaks through your skin and goes into your blood.
  
  
• When taking nitroglycerin or other nitrate medicines: Some drugs used to treat certain sexual or impotence problems may interact with nitrate medicines such as nitroglycerin. Taking these medicines within 24 hours of taking a nitrate-containing medicine can kill you. Some heart or blood pressure medicines may contain nitrate without you knowing it. Ask your caregiver if any of your medicines are nitrates.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Activity:

• Cardiac rehabilitation: This is a monitored exercise and education program that can help your return to an active lifestyle.
  
  
• Driving, working, and lifting: Do not drive or go back to work until your caregiver says it is OK. Also, do not lift anything over 10 pounds or do any hard activity (including housework) until your caregiver says it is OK.
  
  
• Exercise: Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy.
  
  
• Rest: You may feel like resting more. Slowly start to do more each day. Rest when you feel it is needed.

How can I live a heart-healthy lifestyle?

• Diet:
  
  
  • Eat a variety of healthy foods every day. Your diet should include fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, and protein (such as chicken, fish, and beans). Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy.
    
    
  • Ask your caregiver if you should be on a special diet. You may be told to eat foods that are low in fat or cholesterol. You may also be told to limit the amount of salt you eat. Special cookbooks can make it easier to plan low fat and low salt meals.
    
    
  • Weighing too much can make your heart work harder and can cause serious health problems. Talk to your caregiver about a weight loss plan if you are overweight.
  
  
• Quit smoking: It is never too late to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.
  
  
• Stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness later. Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, relaxing muscles, music, or biofeedback. Talk to someone about things that upset you.
  
  
• Control other health problems: If you have other illnesses like diabetes or high blood pressure, you need to control them. Ask your caregiver for more information about controlling any other health problems you may have.

For more information:

• Having an MI is a life-changing event for you and your family. Accepting that you have a heart problem is hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or frightened. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. Let them help you. Encourage those close to you to talk to your caregiver about how things are at home. Your caregiver can help your family better understand how to support a person after having an MI.
  
  
• You may want to join a support group. This is a group of people who also have heart problems. Ask your caregiver for the names and numbers of support groups in your area. You and your family may also want to learn CPR. A CPR class teaches how to help a person who is not breathing or has no heartbeat. Contact the following for more information about heart disease or CPR:
  • American Heart Association National Center
    7272 Greenville Avenue
    Dallas, TX 75231-4596
    Phone: 1-800-242-8721
    Web Address: http://www.americanheart.org
    
  • American Red Cross National Headquarters
    2025 E Street NW
    Washington, DC 20006
    Phone: 1-202-303-4498
    Web Address: http://www.redcross.org
    
  • National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
    Health Information Center
    P.O. Box 30105
    Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
    Phone: 1-301-592-8573
    Web Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
    

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your skin is itchy or you get a rash. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms. This may mean you are allergic to your medicine.
  
  
• You have angina that is happening more frequently, lasting longer, or causing worse pain.
  
  
• You are dizzy or nauseated (upset stomach) after taking your medicine.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing while resting.
  
  
• You have new or worsening swelling in your feet or ankles.
  
  
• You are bleeding from your gums or nose, or have blood in your urine or BMs.
  
  
• You have any questions or concerns about your illness or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You are using blood thinning medicine and are bleeding. First, apply direct pressure to the area for 10 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, call 9-1-1 for help.
  
  
• Never drive yourself when you are having chest pain. If you have any of the following symptoms, Call 9-1-1 or 0 (operator) to get to the nearest hospital or clinic. Rescue workers can treat you on the way to the hospital. This may decrease your risk of permanent heart damage, and may even save your life. Do not ignore chest discomfort.
  
  
  • You are having new or worsening chest pain, or new pain that wakes you from sleep.
    
    
  • You are sweating, have nausea (upset stomach), or are having trouble breathing with your chest pain.
    
    
  • Chest pain that lasts longer than 15 minutes, even after you rest.
    
    
  • Chest pain that does not go away after taking your nitroglycerin or other chest pain medicine as directed.
    
    
  • You faint (pass out), feel like you may faint, or feel dizzy.
    
    
  • You lose feeling in your face, arms or legs, or suddenly feel weak.
    
    
  • You have new trouble seeing or speaking.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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