The Lived Experience of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death and disability worldwide and include diseases of the heart, vascular diseases of the brain and diseases of the blood vessels. Coronary artery disease (CAD), a specific type of CVD, is a chronic disease which encompasses stable and unstable periods. During unstable periods, vascular wall inflammation and other manifestations of atherosclerosis may cause individuals to develop a myocardial infarction (MI). MI may go undetected, be a minor event in a lifelong chronic disease, or be a major catastrophic event leading to severe cardiac deterioration or sudden cardiac death. Experiencing MI frequently alters an individual’s mental representation of self and is often accompanied by mental health concerns including fear, anxiety, worry, depression, grief and loss. Likewise, individuals who experience MI frequently endorse concerns about the social and interpersonal impacts of the condition. Initial research has also identified important variances in how men and women experience MI, with significant implications for future prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. This review aims to identify, analyse and synthesise existing knowledge about individuals’ experiences of MI and comment on the gender differences highlighted within the literature.