clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

The clinical features of acute myocardial infarction include:

• chest pain:
• central, crushing pain
• may radiate to the jaw, neck, and one or both arms
• is a similar pain to that found in angina pectoris but patients with previous angina will often complain that the pain is more severe and lasts longer than angina

• nausea, vomiting, sweating

• the patient is often distressed and may be tachycardic, cold and clammy

• blood pressure is variable

• the patient may be cyanosed

• mild pyrexia is variable feature

Presentation may be with features of the complications, such as left ventricular failure e.g. with dyspnoea

Myocardial infarction is silent in 30% - particularly in diabetics and elderly patients.