The key difference between angina pectoris and myocardial infarction is that angina pectoris is a condition that causes chest pain or discomfort when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen-rich blood, while myocardial infarction is a condition that can cause permanent heart damage and even death due to a lack of blood flow resulting from a blockage in one or more of the heart’s arteries.
Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are two conditions that are associated with the heart and its functions. Both are significantly serious conditions compared to other heart conditions. However, early identification of angina pectoris can avert this condition from progressing into myocardial infarction.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Angina Pectoris
3. What is Myocardial Infarction
4. Similarities – Angina Pectoris and Myocardial Infarction
5. Angina Pectoris vs Myocardial Infarction in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Angina Pectoris vs Myocardial Infarction
What is Angina Pectoris?
Angina is the chest pain that usually comes and goes. There are many forms of angina. Angina pectoris is the most common form of angina. It is also called stable angina. This condition is triggered by several problems with the coronary arteries that prevent the heart from receiving enough blood. These problems may include coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary microvascular disease, and coronary artery spasm. The risk factors for angina pectoris include anemia, chronic stress, diabetes, a diet high in saturated fat, drinking too much alcohol, exposure to polluted air, family history, heart failure, heart valve disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, enlarged heart, inflammation, long term exposure to second-hand smoke, metabolic syndrome, physical activity, obesity, older age, smoking, and use of street drugs. The symptoms of angina pectoris include a squeezing sensation or a tightness in the chest, a feeling similar to indigestion, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, and sweating a lot.
Angina pectoris can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination. Furthermore, treatment options for angina pectoris may include anticoagulants, blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications, lifestyle changes, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
What is Myocardial Infarction?
Myocardial infarction is also known as a heart attack. It is a condition that causes permanent heart damage and death. It occurs when there is a lack of blood flow due to a blockage in one or more of the heart’s arteries. Myocardial infarction is caused by plaque deposition inside the coronary (heart) arteries. It can also happen due to coronary artery spasms, rare medical conditions, trauma, an obstruction that comes from somewhere else in the body, electrolyte imbalance, eating disorders, Takotsubo or stress cardiomyopathy, and anomalous coronary arteries. Moreover, symptoms of myocardial infarction include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, insomnia, nausea or stomach discomfort, heart palpitation, anxiety, sweating, and feeling lightheaded.
Myocardial infarction can be diagnosed through history and symptoms, blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, angiogram, CT scan, MRI, and nuclear heart scan. Furthermore, treatment options for myocardial infarction may include supplementary oxygen, medications (anti-clotting medications, nitroglycerin, thrombolytic (clot-busting) medications, anti-arrhythmia medications, pain medications, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and open-heart surgery, and bypass surgery or CABG.
What are the Similarities Between Angina Pectoris and Myocardial Infarction?
- Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are two conditions that are associated with the heart and its functions.
- Both are significantly serious conditions compared to other heart conditions.
- Angina pectoris can lead to myocardial infarction if not treated properly.
- Both conditions may have similar symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.
- They are treated through medications and surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Pectoris and Myocardial Infarction?
Angina pectoris is a condition that causes chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, while myocardial infarction is a condition that causes permanent heart damage and death when there is a lack of blood flow due to blockage in one or more of heart’s arteries. Thus, this is the key difference between angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. Furthermore, angina pectoris is a less serious condition, while myocardial infarction is a more serious condition.
The below infographic presents the differences between angina pectoris and myocardial infarction in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Pectoris vs Myocardial Infarction
Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are two conditions associated with the heart and its functions. Moreover, these two conditions are associated with each other. This is because angina pectoris can lead to myocardial infarction if not managed properly. Angina pectoris causes chest pain or discomfort when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen-rich blood. Myocardial infarction causes permanent heart damage and death when there is a lack of blood flow due to a blockage in one or more of the heart’s arteries. So, this summarizes the difference between angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.
Reference:
1. “Heart Attack: Symptoms and Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Angina (Ischemic Chest Pain): Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Heart Attack Chest Pain” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “A man having a Heart Attack” By Myupchar (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons