Temperatures drop, myocardial infarction watch...Chest pain lasts 20 to 30 minutes. We need to find an emergency room
Dec 03, 2025
|
Professor Jeong So-dam of the Department of Circulatory Medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital emphasized that "In winter, repetitive stress tends to be applied to cardiovascular vessels, increasing the occurrence of myocardial infarction". "If chest pain and shortness of breath persist for more than 20-30 minutes, it is more important than anything else to visit the emergency room immediately through 119 without delay."
Myocardial infarction is a disease in which the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart suddenly block and necrosis of the heart muscle in the area. The longer the blocked time, the more difficult it is to recover heart function, which is considered an emergency disease that is directly related to the prognosis. In winter, decreased activity, increased weight and blood pressure, increased intake of salty or oily food, and systemic inflammatory reactions caused by infections such as colds and flu act as factors that increase the risk of myocardial infarction.
A typical precursor to myocardial infarction is chest pain that lasts for more than 20 to 30 minutes. Most patients express it as a feeling of tightening, a feeling of being pressed with heavy stones, and a burning pain. In particular, if pain spreads to the left shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, and back, or cold sweat, nausea, and shortness of breath are accompanied, the possibility of myocardial infarction increases.
If myocardial infarction is suspected, I should move to the emergency room of the hospital where cardiovascular intervention is possible through 119. Professor Chung explained that `Myocardial infarction is the representative cause of sudden death, but if you arrive at the emergency room within golden time after knowing the prognosis, you can treat it.'
When myocardial infarction is diagnosed by electrocardiogram and blood tests in the emergency room, coronary intervention is performed to drill blocked blood vessels with balloons and stents. When visiting the hospital due to cardiac shock or cardiac arrest, mechanical circulation aids such as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy) are used to temporarily replace and treat heart and lung functions.
So what are the precautions. Blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels should be checked regularly, and medication should be maintained steadily if necessary. It can also lower cardiovascular risk by smoking cessation, abstaining from alcohol, and managing proper weight. In addition, a diet centered on vegetables, fruits, and fish is recommended instead of salty or greasy foods. Infectious diseases such as flu can increase the risk of myocardial infarction, so it is important for high-risk groups to follow vaccination and infection prevention rules.
Professor Chung said, "Regular aerobic exercise of about 3 to 5 times a week is also helpful, but it is safe to avoid sudden intense exercise in the early morning of winter, cold weather, and heavy snow." "If there are risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and family history, it is necessary to prevent myocardial infarction by screening risk factors and checking lifestyle habits."
|
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
