What is a MINOCA heart attack?

26/02/2022

One out of every ten heart attacks in younger individuals are not triggered by a blocked coronary artery. This kind of myocardial infarction (MI) is classified as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). What is it and how do we diagnose it? Keep reading to know more about our MINOCA diagnosis in Costa del Sol.

MINOCA is a term used to describe people who have had heart injury (myocardial infarction, or MI), but who do not have a blockage in the coronary arteries. Large artery blockages cause the majority of heart attacks, while MINOCA is found in 5-6 percent of all acute myocardial infarction patients.

Patients are often younger and more likely to be female. These people have often arrived with the signs and symptoms of a heart attack only to be informed that they did not suffer a heart attack since their coronary artery blockage was less than 50%.

Causes of MINOCA

Causes of MINOCA include:

Plaque rupture. Buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, which ruptures and restricts blood flow.
Myocarditis. Inflammation of the heart.
Coronary vasospasm. The constriction of blood vessels that often causes chest discomfort during periods of rest and, at times, might cause you to wake up from your sleep.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). A disorder characterized by a tear in the small arteries of the heart that, in many instances, results in the closure of the coronary artery.
Coronary embolism. A blood clot has formed in a coronary artery, causing it to become blocked.
Coronary microvascular disease (CMD). Disease of the small arteries of the heart.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Heart weakness as a result of emotional or stressful circumstances.

Signs and symptoms of MINOCA

Patients appear with symptoms that are comparable to those associated with a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms in women might include the following:

Chest pain/ chest pressure/ chest heaviness
Jaw, neck, or upper back pain
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Fainting
Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen
Fatigue
Indigestion

One of the signs of MINOCA is a positive blood test for cardiovascular disease (troponin), as well as indications of heart damage on an electrocardiogram (ECG).

MINOCA diagnosis in Costa del Sol

If you are experiencing the symptoms described above or think you may be having a MINOCA heart attack, call our emergency service immediately. At Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital in Costa del Sol we will diagnose a MINOCA syndrome via:

Cardiac MRI. A magnetic field and radio waves are used to create images of the heart, which are then utilized to diagnose cardiac abnormalities and determine the amount of the damage. In order to determine the reason of MINOCA, it is necessary to do this test.
Troponin. A blood test that looks for signs of heart damage.
Electrocardiogram (ECG). The heart's electrical impulses are recorded as they move through it.
Coronary Optimal Coherence Tomography. Specialised imaging that is done at time of coronary angiogram to determine the cause of MINOCA.
Coronary angiogram. Invasive procedure in which a long, thin tube (catheter) is put into the cardiac arteries and dye is injected into the arteries to make the arteries and regions of obstruction visible on an X-ray
Echocardiogram. Ultrasound waves generate pictures of the heart, which may be used to assess heart function and to diagnose cardiac disease.