Myocardial Infarction vs.

Angina
Pectoris
 Posted on January 24, 2014
 by Mikha Canon
 in Sudden Medical Emergencies
Many people often interchange myocardial infarction and angina

pectoris with each other. Although both are conditions of the heart brought about by
insufficient supply of oxygen, they are two different and significantly serious disorders.
Myocardial infarction, or simply known heart attack, is caused by death or permanent damage
of heart cells due to inadequate amount of oxygen. On the other hand, angina pectoris is
caused by a decrease on the blood supply to the heart from the coronary arteries. The former is
considered a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated early, while the latter is
potentially dangerous, especially if left untreated. Angina pectoris is a known risk factor of
myocardial infarction.
Main Differences of Myocardial Infarction and Angina Pectoris

Myocardial Infarction (MI) Angina Pectoris

 Plaque buildup inside the

coronary arteries
 Formation of blood clots  Disease in the coronary
Causes  Heart spasm arteries
 Disease in the coronary  Blocked arteries
arteries
 Blocked arteries

 Smoking cigarettes
 High cholesterol
 Diabetes
 Hypertension  Smoking cigarettes
 Use of illegal drugs  Physical exertion
Risk Factors
 Family history of MI  Emotional stress
 Smoking cigarettes  Family history of angina
 Physical exertion pectoris
 Emotional stress
 Family history of angina
pectoris

Medications such as
Nitroglycerin, angiotensin-  Medications such as
Treatment nitroglycerin
converting enzyme
 Rest
inhibitors, beta blockers,
 aspirin, and many other
more medicines

Medical
Yes No
Emergency

Signs and Symptoms of Myocardial Infarction and Angina Pectoris

It is important to distinguish myocardial infarction from angina pectoris, as one requires more
urgent care than the other. The following are the common signs and symptoms of myocardial
infarction and angina pectoris:

Myocardial Infarction
 Excruciating or crushing pain that begins in the heart and spreads to the shoulders, jaw,
neck and back
 Nausea or vomiting
 Dizziness and weakness, feeling faint
 Cold and sweaty
Angina Pectoris
 Pressing, squeezing, choking, bursting or burning sensation in the chest
 Nausea
 Shortness of breath
 Fatigue
First Aid Management for Myocardial Infarction and Angina Pectoris
Management of patients with myocardial infarction and angina pectoris will differ greatly.
However, it is necessary to give first aid immediately to patients that require it. The following is
recommended in such cases:

Myocardial Infarction
 Call for emergency medical services immediately.
 Check for the patient’s airway, breathing and circulation. Initiate CPR if necessary.
 Do not leave the patient alone at all times.
Angina Pectoris
 Stop doing any current activity and ask the patient to lie down in a comfortable position
with the head up.
 If one has particular medications for angina, take it. If none, chew one regular adult aspirin
or its equivalent.
If one is unsure whether a person is experiencing myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, it is
better to call for emergency medical services to ensure proper care is given to the patient. To
learn more about how to properly manage myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, enroll
in First Aid Courses and CPR Training.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ANGINA PECTORIS AND MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

7 months ago

Although there are differences between angina pectoris and myocardial infarction , both are
two of the most recurrent pathologies and characteristics of an alteration in the health of our
heart. Both have a common origin, which is the existence of some alteration at the level of the
cardiac arteries. An alteration that influences a lack of oxygen, in addition to limiting the blood
that reaches our heart. And is that myocardial infarction and angina have many features in
common. However, there are also marked differences between both diseases of our vital
engine. To understand what these differences are to which we refer, it is better to start by
defining the specific concept of each disease:

What is angina?

One of the differences between angina pectoris and myocardial infarction is that it is chronic
and this is acute.

We define chest angina as that pain or discomfort that we place in the chest area and that have
as origin an insufficient blood supply to the heart. In the majority of the occasions this problem
arrives as a consequence of the existence of a certain obstruction in the coronary arteries. In
the event that this particular obstruction is only fleeting, that is, has a duration of minutes at
most, and therefore the patient recovers after this time, it is considered angina pectoris.

In many cases, angina can originate from a heart that is forced to increase its effort as well as a
paralyzed organism in the face of the need to increase blood flow to its own motor. It is, in any
way, a more frequent pathology than we think affects both genders equally, although in men it
is more common after 30 years of age.

Usually preceded by abnormal physical or emotional arousal, angina pectoris is one of the most
common consequences of atherosclerosis. In colloquial language, to make it more accessible at
a general level, angina pectoris occurs at the moment when the arteries of our heart are unable
to assume an increase in blood flow. Thus, one of the first responses of our body and,
therefore, puts the patient on alert, is the painful message in the form of urgent warning to the
brain that in this case transmit the nerves of our heart. It is a pain that should not last longer
than about 20 minutes.

What is myocardial infarction?

On the other hand, and before specifying what are the differences between angina pectoris and
infarction , it is necessary to know that myocardial infarction is that disease that has as main
characteristic the death of an area of our heart as a consequence of the total obstruction of the
heart. a coronary artery.

The fact that one of the areas of our motor organ ends unusable comes as a consequence of
the constant insufficiency of oxygen, reason why this zone can not get to regenerate by itself.

This disease manifests itself when people reach middle age and affects both men and women.
In women, the disease manifests itself ten years later than in men, so the myth that women are
not affected by ischemic heart disease is a lie. ”

Once we have both diseases well defined, it will be much easier to understand the main
differences between angina and infarction. Thus, the factors that make the difference between
the two pathologies are:

Angina of chest usually appears as a consequence of the accomplishment of an intense exercise

and tends to disappear at the moment in which the person chooses to rest.

Angina pectoris tends to disappear at the time the patient is given a medication such as
nitroglycerin.

Angina pectoris tends to disappear after 10 minutes. The pain produced by angina pectoris is
usually much less intense than that caused by a myocardial infarction.

The cardiac arteries are altered before the two coronary diseases that occupy us.

The cardiac arteries are altered before the two coronary diseases that occupy us.

It must be taken into account that the manifestation of certain pain or discomfort in the chest
area does not always have to do with a heart attack. There are many reasons why most of the
time we feel this type of discomfort. In addition, they can have origins as different as simple
indigestion or the existence of infection in the thorax area. However, it should be noted that the
most probable cause is that this discomfort is not due to a myocardial infarction in the
following cases:

High intensity pain such as can be felt when a knife is nailed.

Pain that gets worse with breathing

Pain that modifies its intensity with the change of position or the return to movement.

Pain that originates at the moment in which the specialist keeps the chest pressed.

More attention should be paid to the following alterations or factors that, since differences
between angina pectoris and infarction can be considered , and most likely if it is a myocardial
infarction:

Pain that extends from the chest to the arms or the area of the jaw.

Pain that moves from top to bottom along the arms.

On the other hand, a severe attack of angina does share pain intensity with that which
originates in a myocardial infarction, hence the possibility of confusing both conditions. In any
case, the best recommendation is to go to the specialist in the presence of acute and persistent
pain in the chest.

Regardless of the pathology that the patient is referring to, it is always better to prevent.

Similarities and differences between angina pectoris and infarction

As mentioned throughout this article, both angina pectoris and myocardial infarction
correspond to two types of coronary syndromes. However, they are not the same. One of the
main differences between angina pectoris and infarction, is that while the infarction is acute,
angina is chronic. That is to say, it is a disease to which to face for life. In addition, we found
more differentiating factors between the two heart diseases:

Same origin

The cause of both myocardial infarction and angina is the same, that is, an obstruction of the
coronary arteries. However, in the differences between angina pectoris and infarction , we find
that, while in the infarction the obstruction is complete and results in the death of a part of the
muscle, in the case of angina pectoris said obstruction is partial.

Lack of oxygen

There are some similarities, but also differences between angina pectoris and myocardial
infarction.
In both pathologies lack of oxygenation occurs, although in myocardial infarction this shortage
is total, while in angina pectoris it is transient.

Precordial pain

It is one of the factors that both pathologies share. It is an intense pain that radiates from the
sternum to the lower part of the body, that is, arms, spine, neck, jaw or even the mouth of the
stomach.

Different pain

Although they share intensity in the pain threshold, it is precisely these discomforts that are our
allies in order to be able to establish differences between angina pectoris and infarction. On the
one hand, in the case of infarction, pain arises when the patient is in a resting state, lasts about
30 to 45 minutes. On the other hand, angina pectoris manifests a type of pain that arises when
the patient is carrying out some kind of effort such as, for example, the practice of intense
exercise, does not last more than five minutes and tends to disappear with rest. .

Symptoms that are confusing

In addition, both diseases reflect other types of symptoms that may hinder the development of
a correct diagnosis.

In addition to pain, the patient may suffer anxiety, sweating, paleness or palpitations in both
angina pectoris and heart attack.

Time is life

Myocardial infarction is considered a medical emergency, since the time it takes to react will be
essential to guarantee the recovery of the patient.

Diagnosis of heart disease

In any case, none of the symptoms and differences between angina pectoris and infarction
mentioned above are sufficient for the specialist to compose an adequate and correct
diagnosis. And, in this sense, there are multiple diseases that share this type of symptoms,
such as, for example:
Hernia hiatus.

Fibromyalgia

Stomach or duodenal ulcer.

As mentioned throughout this article, before the first symptoms you will have to go to the
emergency service. There the experts will carry out a series of tests to determine effectively the
cause and the illness that the patient suffers. Among other tests, a chest x-ray, an
electrocardiogram and a blood test will be carried out to establish the possible existence of a
disorder that may cause this characteristic pain in the chest, as may be the case, for example,
of anemia.

If you notice any symptom of a possible condition of this class, you should go to the emergency
room as soon as possible.

Another type of more specific tests may be necessary to perform through the cardiology
service. Among them, we highlight the most common:

Ergometry or stress test

While the patient is up on a treadmill, the intensity of effort will increase while an
electrocardiogram is performed. In the presence of angina pectoris will be reflected on the
electrocardiogram as the intensity of the effort increases. Faced with a positive test for angina
pectoris, the establishment of this diagnosis is considered effective.

Coronary angiography

For its realization requires the introduction of a catheter through one of the blood vessels in
order to reach the heart and inject a contrast fluid into the cardiac arteries to see the degree of
obstruction.

To conclude this article, we will point out that another of the differences between angina
pectoris and infarction is that it is of vital importance in the case of a myocardial infarction is a
rapid action. And, in the event that this condition is not treated immediately, it can lead to the
death of 30% of patients. On the other hand, well controlled and sustained angina pectoris
through adequate treatment does not have to alter the quality of life of the patient. Of course, it
is important to carry out the indications of the specialist, since we are facing a disease that will
accompany us throughout our lives.