What are the causes of myocardial infarction?

May 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
As people age, atherosclerotic plaques gradually develop in the blood vessel walls, leading to narrowing or blockage of the vessels and increasing the risk of myocardial infarction. Recommended improvements: Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, reducing intake of high-salt, high-fat, and high-sugar foods, engaging in moderate physical activity, such as at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption.

Myocardial infarction refers to the death of heart muscle tissue, which may be caused by aging, emotional fluctuations, hypertension, diabetes, or coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Appropriate management should be selected according to specific circumstances. If bodily discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended, and treatment should follow medical advice.

1. Aging: With increasing age, atherosclerotic plaques gradually develop in the blood vessel walls, causing narrowing or blockage of vessels and increasing the risk of myocardial infarction. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important, including balanced nutrition, reducing intake of high-salt, high-fat, and high-sugar foods, engaging in moderate physical activity (e.g., at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise weekly), quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, regular health check-ups, and paying attention to cardiovascular health.

2. Emotional fluctuations: Prolonged states of tension, anxiety, or anger, or sudden major emotional stress, can lead to hormonal imbalances in the body, causing a sharp rise in blood pressure, increased heart rate, and coronary artery spasm, which may trigger myocardial infarction. It is recommended to regulate emotions effectively by practicing meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or confiding in friends to relieve stress and maintain emotional stability.

3. Hypertension: Hypertension may be associated with environmental and genetic factors. Long-term high blood pressure increases the heart's workload, leading to myocardial hypertrophy and damage to the vascular endothelium, promoting the formation of atherosclerosis and increasing the likelihood of myocardial infarction. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, palpitations, etc. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use antihypertensive medications such as nifedipine tablets, methyldopa tablets, or captopril sustained-release tablets to control blood pressure.

4. Diabetes: Diabetes may be related to genetic and metabolic factors. Prolonged high blood glucose levels in patients can damage blood vessels and nerves, accelerating the progression of atherosclerosis and increasing the risk of coronary artery narrowing or blockage, which can lead to myocardial infarction. Common symptoms include excessive thirst, increased appetite, frequent urination, and weight loss. Following medical advice, patients may use medications such as insulin glargine injection, insulin aspart injection, or acarbose capsules to control blood sugar levels and slow disease progression.

5. Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease: This condition is usually caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, leading to narrowing or blockage of the vessel lumen, insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle, causing angina pectoris, which can progress to myocardial infarction in severe cases. Symptoms include episodic chest pain that may radiate to the precordial area, shoulders, and back, with pain often described as oppressive, suffocating, or constricting. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as aspirin tablets, atorvastatin calcium tablets, or isosorbide mononitrate tablets to alleviate symptoms.

In daily life, it is recommended to improve lifestyle habits, control indicators such as blood pressure, lipid levels, and blood glucose, and maintain emotional stability to help prevent myocardial infarction.