A Viewpoint on Prevention of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Prevention of myocardial infarction has posed a challenge to the medical scientists. The ever-increasing list of coronary risk factors has further confused and obscured the problem. Each proponent of a risk factor has ardent and enthusiastic statistical evidence to prove the correctness of his belief. Heredity, hypcrlipida cmia, diabetes mellitus, hypertenson, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, cmtoional conflict and type A personality are the most favoured risk factors finding consicierable statistical supp ort. Confusion is further magnified by the belief that atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and coronary thrombosis are synonymous.

Various risk factors either cause increased release of and/or increased end organ sensitivity to, catecholamines such as in hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heredity, inactivity, obesity, A type personality and emotional conflict or are a consequence of catecholamine overactivity such as in hypertension, hyperbetalipoproteina_ emia, raised blood cholesterol, diabetic type of sugar tolerance curve.

It is obvious that the central and focal aspect of coronary prevention is containment of adrenergic activity which finds expression under different circumstances by compromising haemod ynamic and biochemical homeostasis of the body.