I21: Acute myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is a serious medical condition where the supply of blood to a part of the heart becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot. This blockage can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle. Symptoms typically include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. The pain could often extend to the arm, jaw, or back. The condition occurs when one of the coronary arteries, responsible for supplying blood to the heart muscle, gets blocked. This blockage is typically caused by atherosclerosis, a condition where the arteries narrow due to the build-up of fatty deposits. Heart attacks must be detected and treated as quickly as possible because the condition can progress rapidly, causing long-term damage to the heart and even death. Both genders and all races are susceptible to acute myocardial infarction. Other factors such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes can increase a person's risk of experiencing this condition.