the actual damage at the site of an infarct is due to?

Answer 1

The damage at the site of an infarct - heart, brain, kidney, wherever - is due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) causing cell death.

Answer 2

Technically the damage is due to swelling of the myocyte (muscle cell of the heart) which is due to an influx of water which follows an influx of calcium. Why calcium is drawn into an injured cell is a bit more complex and so called calcium 'blockers' do not prevent this and quite the opposite may raise the death rate in those suffering a heart attack. The injury to the cell begins as a compromise in circulation which is a combination of factors including narrowing of the artery with rupture or fissure of the plaque and resultant blood clot depriving the muscle of blood flow, oxygen, nutrients, and the ability to clear 'toxins' for a period of at least 3 to 6 hours. In this forum any answer that I provide must be a simplification and complex medical matters are difficult to simplify and translate into plain English and as always if you wish more information [e-mail]

Answer 3

Damage to cardiac muscle by infarct is due to a lack of blood supply hence oxygen to the tissue itself. Plaque build-up in cardiac arteries decreases blood flow to the area of heart muscle it supplies...if the tissue requires more oxygen then it is receiving - an infarct occurs.

Answer 4

The coronary arteries that supply the blood and oxygen to the heart muscle can become blocked by plague. Once this happens the heart muscle starts to die as the cells in the muscles do not get oxygen and nutrients they need to function. Once the blockage is eliminated in the coronary artery then the heart muscle can recover. Along with this recover is some scare tissue that does not regain the function.

Answer 5

Lack of blood supply to the tissue--whether heart, kidney, or some other organ.

Answer 6

need more details