Blood supply
to the myocardium is interrupted for a prolonged time due to the blockage
of coronary
arteries. This results in insufficient oxygen reaching cardiac muscle,
causing
cardiac muscles to die (necrosis). MI is commonly known as a heart attack.
The area of
infarction is often due to build-up of plaque over time (atherosclerosis).
It may also be
due to a clot that develops in association with the atherosclerosis
within the
vessel. Patients are typically (not always) symptomatic, but some
patients will
not be aware of the event; they will have what is called a silent MI.
