Treatments for myocardial infarction vary considerably depending on the type of heart attack you have had and the severity of it so here is a general outline of treatments available which covers both medicinal and surgical treatments and of cause a combination of the two is often used.
Medicines which are used for the treatment of myocardial infarction are primarily to break down blood clots and help with blood pressure and flow, all of which ease the pressure on the heart and allow it to recover and get back to normal function. They are also prescribed as a preventative measure to future heart attacks or to a patient who is at risk of having a heart attack.
Medication
Aspirin is widely used as treatment for a heart attack as it reduces blood clotting and improves the flow of blood.
Drugs such as anti-platelet agents and thrombolytics work in a similar way to Aspirin but are more aggressive in that they dissolve or break down blood clots, improve blood flow and prevent existing clots from getting larger of new clots from forming.
Heparin is a drug most commonly associated with heart conditions as it acts to make blood less sticky which again makes it harder for blood clots to form.
Then there are the various forms of pain relief which will be used to lessen the pain – morphine is such an example or nitroglycerin which as well as treating chest pain dilates blood vessels meaning blood is able to flow easier to the heart.
Beta blockers are also a much used treatment as these type of medication relax the heart muscle, slowing down the heartbeat and easing blood pressure which puts less stress on the heart and can minimise the amount of damage to the heart muscle.
For surgical treatments for myocardial infarction you are looking at one of the following:
Coronary artery bypass surgery – this can take place at the time of the myocardial infarction or more likely a number of days post the attack when the heart has been stabilised and involves sewing in veins or arteries which bypass the vein or artery that has the blockage and allowing normal flow of blood to the heart.
Coronary angioplasty and stenting – this can also be known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and involves a catheter being inserted through an artery in the wrist or groin up to the blocked artery in the heart. This is a tube which the surgeon can then investigate where the blockage is and then insert a special balloon which when inflated opens up the blocked artery and aids blood flow. If the artery then needs to be kept open long term a device known as a stent will be inserted and maintains blood flow to the heart.