What is acute myocardial infarction? Acute myocardial infarction is the medical name for a heart attack. A heart attack is a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is abruptly cut off, causing tissue damage. This is usually the result of a blockage in one or more of the . A blockage can develop due to a buildup of plaque, a substance mostly made of fat, cholesterol, and cellular waste products. Call 911 right away if you think that you or someone you know may be having a heart attack. What are the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction? While the classic symptoms of a heart attack are chest pain and shortness of breath, the symptoms can be quite varied. The most common symptoms of a heart attack include: pain in the chest, back, jaw, and other areas of the upper body that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back shortness of breath sweating nausea vomiting anxiety a cough dizziness ...