Last Updated on January 17, 2025 by Analgesia team
NSTEMI Medical Abbreviation
NSTEMI stands for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, which is a type of heart attack:
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Explanation
NSTEMI occurs when the heart’s need for oxygen is not met, usually due to a partial blockage in a coronary artery. It’s a medical emergency that can lead to a STEMI if left untreated.
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Symptoms
The most common symptom of NSTEMI is chest discomfort, which can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It can also feel like tightness or heaviness in the chest.
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Diagnosis
NSTEMI is diagnosed when an ECG doesn’t show the same changes as a STEMI, but blood tests show heart damage.
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Treatment
Treatment for NSTEMI usually involves taking medicines to prevent blood clots, like aspirin. In some cases, coronary angioplasty or a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) may be recommended.
- Age
- Being overweight or obese
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Unhealthy diet
- Family history of heart disease, chest pain, or stroke
- Not being physically active
- ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): A heart attack that occurs when a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart is completely blocked, causing a long interruption to blood flow and potentially extensive heart damage
- Unstable angina: Symptoms of a heart attack, but tests don’t show heart damage.