In this video we are diving into myocardial infarction pathophysiology.
Let's do it!
What is up, my friend?
Christina here from nursingschoolofsuccess.com and I am back with another pathophysiology
video for you!
So today we're talking about the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction, otherwise known
as a heart attack.
Now before we get started, make sure you're subscribed to this channel and click on that
little bell icon to get notified when we post a new video.
Okay, so, I get questions on this all the time from nursing students, what is actually
happening during a myocardial infarction?
This is a super common disorder that you'll treat on a med-surg floor during your nursing
school clincals, so it's really important for you to know about.
So, here's a breakdown of what's going on during a myocardial infarction:
A myocardial infarction happens when there is a block in the blood flow to the heart,
which is ischemia of the heart.
Ischemia just means that there is not enough blood flow.
I know ischemia sounds like a big scary word, but really, that's all it means, it just means
that there is a lack of blood flow.
And most of the time when you hear the word "ischemia", it's referring to ischemia of
the heart, but it can also be used for other organs as well.
So ischemia just means that the organs or tissues aren't getting enough blood flow.
If this explanation of ischemia makes sense to you, write LOVE in the comments below.
I want to make sure I'm explaining this in a way that makes sense, so if this is all
making sense to you, write LOVE in the comments below to let me know.
Thanks so much.
Okay, so let's take a look at the heart for a moment.
So when you look at the heart, there are a bunch of coronary arteries around it, so all
of these big and beautiful blood vessels.
They are all around the heart and run in all different directions.
And these coronary arteries are the vessels that actually provide the heart itself with
blood.
So as the heart is pumping, there is some blood going to the body, and some blood going
to these coronary arteries around the heart, to give the heart blood.
Most heart attacks are caused when one of these coronary arteries become blocked, like
when there's a blood clot, or if there is fat or plaque buildup inside the vessel.
This is what happens during coronary artery disease.
So that's really the most common cause.
But it can also happen if during hypertension as well.
And of course, there are many other causes that we don't have time to cover here in this
video.
But I do talk about them in our myocardial infarction video series inside of the NursingSOS
Membership Community.
So if you want a deeper dive into the causes, signs and symptoms, nursing assessment and
nursing interventions for a myocardial infarction, you'll definitely want to join the NursingSOS
Membership Community.
I popped that link down below in the description.
So during coronary artery disease, these coronary arteries actually become blocked with plaque
build up.
So there's actually a physical blockage that prevents the blood from getting through these
coronary arteries to the heart tissue.
So this is what happens during coronary artery disease, the coronary arteries, over time,
build up with plaque.
And if enough plaque builds up, it will start to restrict the blood flow, so the blood can't
get past it to the heart.
Now during hypertension, it's kind of the same scenario, but it can be too different
types: either the blood vessel is getting too full of that plaque that's causing hypertension,
and the blood can't get through, or the blood vessels are actually so constricted, which
leads to hypertension, and that constriction doesn't allow the blood flow to get through.
So there are a few different scenarios there.
So, as always, I like to put nursing school pathophysiology into simple and easy steps
for you to follow.
So let's break that down here as a recap.
Now of course, you won't see these steps anywhere else, I just made them up to make learning
this easier for you.
Because, who doesn't love step-by-step processes right?
That's what we're all about here!
So, step number 1 of a myocardial infarction is that one (or multiple) coronary arteries
becomes blocked.
So for one reason or another, one or more of these little coronary arteries is blocked
and blood can't get past.
And that's step number 2: blood can't move past that blockage.
It's stuck on the other side because it can't move forward through that coronary artery.
Now, step number 3 is ischemia.
So like we said before, ischemia just means that there is a lack of blood flow to the
tissue, and in this case, it's the heart tissue.
So in step number 3 of a myocardial infarction, there is ischemia of the heart tissue, meaning
the heart isn't getting enough blood flow.
And if this continues and get's worse, it can lead to necrosis, which means that the
tissue starts to die.
So, without blood flow, the heart tissue can't keep on going, it needs blood, right?
So if that ischemia (that lack of blood flow) goes on for too long, it can lead to necrosis,
which is where the tissue dies.
And that is the pathophysiology of a myocardial infarction: step number 1: one or more of
the coronary arteries becomes blocked.
Step 2: blood can't get past that blockage, Step 3: Ischemia occurs and step 4: necrosis
can occur if it goes on for too long and the blood flow doesn't return quick enough.
Now make sure you download the nursing school med-surg checklist I have for you.
This is a STEP BY STEP checklist guide for studying for med-surg in nursing school.
It will help you out a TON, so you don't want to miss it.
The link is down below in the description for you to snag that.
It will change your life and make studying med-surg way easier for you.
Thank you so much for watching, friend!
Now go become the nurse that God created only YOU to be.
And I'll see you right back here next time on the nursing school show, take care.