Hjartaáfall
Hjartaáfall is the Icelandic term for a heart attack, a medical emergency caused by a sudden interruption of blood flow to part of the heart muscle, most often due to blockage in a coronary artery. The resulting ischemia can damage or destroy heart tissue if blood flow is not restored promptly. Myocardial infarction can involve large or small areas of the heart and may affect the heart’s pumping ability.
Pathophysiology commonly involves rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, followed by thrombosis that narrows or stops
Symptoms typically include chest pain or pressure, discomfort in the arm, neck, jaw, back, or stomach, shortness
Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment, ECG, and blood tests for cardiac troponins. Imaging such as echocardiography
Prognosis depends on the speed of treatment and the extent of heart damage. Preventive measures focus on