Present Concepts of Acute Coronary Occlusion

The terms coronary occlusion, coronary thrombosis and cardiac or myocardial infarction are often employed as synonyms, although there are useful differences in their meanings. Coronary thrombosis refers to a special type of coronary occlusion in which thrombosis is the final event in the process of occlusion. Myocardial infarction, although a frequent result of acute coronary occlusion, does not always follow it. FREQUENCY One of the much discussed questions of the day is whether coronary disease is becoming more frequent than it was in former years or whether it merely seems to be more frequent because some progress has been made in its recognition. All present day statistical studies reveal its importance as a cause of death. Most writers on the subject assume that its incidence is rapidly increasing. The further assumption is usually made that the increase is due to stress and strain of modern life. On the other hand,