What it means
Every tissue needs a steady supply of blood. If an artery is blocked for long enough, the tissue it feeds is damaged, and that damaged area is called an infarct. In the brain this is an ischemic stroke, and in the heart it is a heart attack. Infarcts can also occur in the kidneys, spleen and other organs. Reports often describe them as acute, subacute or chronic.
When it matters
The age of an infarct matters greatly. An acute infarct is recent and needs prompt medical care, especially in the brain. A chronic infarct is old and has healed into a scar, and it is sometimes found by chance. Even then, doctors usually look for the cause, such as narrowed arteries or a heart rhythm problem, to lower the chance of another one.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Is the infarct new or old, and how can you tell?
- Could it explain any symptoms I have had?
- What tests are needed to find out why it happened?
