Which statement about myocardial infarction is true?

Which statement about myocardial infarction is true?

• A. It is a blockage of arteries in the brain.
• B. It is an infection of the heart valves.
• C. It is a lack of blood supply to a portion of the heart.
• D. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arteries.

Answer: (C)

A myocardial infarction is a lack of blood supply to a portion of the heart muscle. This occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked, usually from a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque with a clot, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the heart tissue. Without blood flow, the affected heart cells become ischemic and can die (infarct), which is the event we call a heart attack. Clinically this is often reflected by chest pain and elevated cardiac biomarkers, with ECG changes helping to classify the type (such as STEMI or NSTEMI). This condition is distinct from a blockage in brain arteries (stroke), an infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), or chronic inflammatory arterial disease, which describe different problems.

A myocardial infarction is a lack of blood supply to a portion of the heart muscle. This occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked, usually from a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque with a clot, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the heart tissue. Without blood flow, the affected heart cells become ischemic and can die (infarct), which is the event we call a heart attack. Clinically this is often reflected by chest pain and elevated cardiac biomarkers, with ECG changes helping to classify the type (such as STEMI or NSTEMI). This condition is distinct from a blockage in brain arteries (stroke), an infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), or chronic inflammatory arterial disease, which describe different problems.