Myocardial Infarction from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Our Heart and Cardiovascular System

This first module of this course focuses on the heart and the cardiovascular system. The first lecture covers the anatomy and function of the heart, explaining the basic glossary which you will encounter during this course. The second lecture displays the various types of blood vessels and arteries. This is helpful to understand the final lecture of this module: the sympathetic nervous system. This lecture will discuss the external influences that have a direct impact on our nervous system, including the physiological effects and clinical consequences.

Risk Factors and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases

Whereas the first module focuses on different physiological aspects of the heart and the cardiovascular system, the second module considers several external risk factors which can cause a myocardial infarction. This module not only discusses the risks such as aging, smoking, hypertension, lipids and diabetes, but also explains which preventive measures can be employed to minimize the risk of a heart attack, for example, by focusing on physical exercise to increase life expectancy and the personal health.

Acute Coronary Syndrome: Diagnosis & Early Management

This module focuses on different methods and approaches to deal with acute coronary syndrome, which in the worst case can lead to an acute heart attack. To provide you with a clearer idea of what can lead to myocardial infarction, this module concentrates on a variety of specific cardiac diseases, their mechanisms, the medical tools used to detect them, as well as on the appropriate therapeutic approach to prevent cardiac events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome: Follow up and Rehabilitation

Module four illustrates the methods employed to improve cardiac rehabilitation. Moreover, this module focuses on the secondary prevention to avoid the risk of myocardial infarction. This involves the analysis of external and biological factors which can cause cardiac diseases and explains the mechanisms needed to change bad behavioral patterns. There are several factors in life which can be easily altered to improve the personal wellbeing and those are discussed in this section.

Heart Failure: Final Stage of Coronary Heart Diseases

The last module focuses on the pathophysiological aspect of heart diseases by illustrating the chain of cause of heart failure. The module also explains how we can diagnose a potential heart failure by correctly analyzing the clinical symptoms and signs. Echocardiography is the most important tool to identify the condition of the heart and to diagnose heart failure. To minimize the risk of heart failure, it is important to inform the patients about possible therapeutic approaches. Therefore, the last part of this module discusses both medical and device therapies and introduces assist devices in correlation with transplantation as last possible treatment method.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

This course is tailored towards medical students and healthcare professionals who seek to deepen their understanding of cardiovascular diseases

Taught by Prof. Thomas F. Lüscher, a renowned cardiologist

Provides a comprehensive overview of cardiovascular diseases, from risk factors to prevention and management

Emphasizes the importance of behavioral risk factors and their impact on cardiovascular health

Covers a wide range of topics, including acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and cardiac rehabilitation

Some modules may require learners to have prior medical or scientific knowledge

Reviews summary

Well received myocardial infarction overview

Learners say Myocardial Infarction is a largely positive course that provides an excellent basic overview of Myocardial Infarction (MI) for students, nurses, and medical graduates. Well organized and interesting, the lectures are engaging and informative with clear, detailed explanations. Students appreciate the well explained videos, useful articles, and helpful supplementary readings. Students also largely find the quizzes to be effective in helping them learn the material. While some students desire more in-depth content on some topics, most find the course to be a fantastic resource for those interested in cardiovascular events and a good review for those already familiar with the subject.

Highly knowledgeable

"Thank you to all Doctors/ Professors! It is of great help!"

"The lecturers are clearly exceptionally knowledgable, the content is well organised, but the delivery wasn't the most comprehensive."

"While it is VERY clear that the lecturers are highly knowledgable, it is also evident that they are treating physicians with a narrow specialisation."

Well organized

"The course is well organized and interesting."

"Thoroughly structured with critical information, great addition to Cardiomyopathy knowledge base and highly recommend for new and existing learners."

"The content is well organised, but the delivery wasn't the most comprehensive."

Effective learning tool

"The quizzes demand not only viewing the lecture videos but reading the recommended references as well."

"The course was really effective. It's just that the formatting of the quizzes needs some adjustment."

"Overall, the course is interesting, it covers a very wide range of topics, and provides access to great external reading that I may not have otherwise stumbled upon."

Engaging and informative

"Lectures are engaging and informative."

"The topic is well covered to provide the relevant information to beginners with good clarity."

"Very informative course. Thank you for making the topic so interesting and simple to understand."

Some inaccuracies noted

"While it is VERY clear that the lecturers are highly knowledgable, it is also evident that they are treating physicians with a narrow specialisation."

"Some of the information was inaccurate and the quizzes were not structured in a way that would test deeper understanding but, rather the ability to recite the exact information stated by the lecturer."

"Lastly, certain points that were made were made as "maybe something between X-Y"/ "possibly 12 or maybe even 20" while the quiz then presented those numbers as facts/medical protocol."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Myocardial Infarction with these activities:

Volunteer as a Peer Tutor

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Teaching others will solidify your understanding of the course concepts and improve your communication skills.

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Contact your instructor or department to inquire about tutoring opportunities.
Prepare lesson plans and materials.
Meet with students regularly to provide support and guidance.

Review Anatomy and Physiology

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Reviewing anatomy and physiology will provide a solid foundation for understanding the cardiovascular system and its diseases.

Browse courses on Anatomy

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Refer to your old notes or textbooks.
Watch online videos or tutorials.
Attend a refresher course or workshop.

Read 'Braunwald's Heart Disease' by Zipes and Libby

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This comprehensive textbook provides an in-depth overview of cardiovascular diseases, their diagnosis, and management.

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Obtain a copy of the book.
Read through the assigned chapters.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.

Four other activities

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Follow Tutorials on Echocardiography

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Echocardiography is an essential skill in diagnosing heart failure. Following tutorials will enhance your understanding and proficiency in this technique.

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Find reputable online tutorials or courses.
Set aside dedicated time for practice.
Review the basics of echocardiography.
Practice image acquisition and interpretation.

Solve Practice Problems on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

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Practicing problem-solving will enhance your understanding of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and their prevention.

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Join a study group or online forum to discuss solutions.
Attend a problem-solving workshop or session.

Attend a Workshop on Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Attending a workshop will provide hands-on experience and insights into the latest techniques and approaches in cardiac rehabilitation.

Browse courses on Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Research and identify relevant workshops.
Register and attend the workshop.
Participate actively and network with experts.

Create a Presentation on Acute Coronary Syndrome

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Creating a presentation will reinforce your understanding of the diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndrome.

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Gather information from the course materials and other sources.
Organize your content using an outline.
Design your presentation slides.
Practice your presentation and get feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Myocardial Infarction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cardiologist

Cardiologists help patients prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat cardiovascular diseases including heart attack, heart failure, and hypertension. They may specialize in one or more subfields of medicine, including non-invasive cardiology, interventional cardiology, or electrophysiology. This course may be useful for those considering a career in cardiology because it provides a strong foundation in the anatomy and function of the heart and cardiovascular system, as well as the risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cardiologist

Physicist

Physicists may conduct research on the fundamental principles of the universe or apply their knowledge to practical problems in fields such as medicine, engineering, or business. They may specialize in one or more subfields of physics, including nuclear physics, particle physics, or astrophysics. This course may be useful for those considering a career in physics because it provides a foundation in the basic principles of physiology and the cardiovascular system. Some physicists may also work in the field of medical physics, which involves the application of physics to medicine. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and distribution of disease and other health problems in populations. They may specialize in one or more subfields of epidemiology, including environmental epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, or social epidemiology. This course may be useful for those considering a career in epidemiology because it provides a foundation in the risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Epidemiologists may also work in the field of cardiovascular epidemiology, which focuses on the study of cardiovascular diseases in populations. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, interpret, and present data. They may specialize in one or more subfields of statistics, including biostatistics, econometrics, or data science. This course may be useful for those considering a career in statistics because it provides a foundation in the statistical methods used to analyze data in cardiovascular research. Statisticians may also work in the field of biostatistics, which involves the application of statistics to medicine. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians apply statistical methods to the study of biological data. They may work in a variety of settings, including academia, industry, and government. This course may be useful for those considering a career in biostatistics because it provides a strong foundation in the statistical methods used to analyze data in cardiovascular research. Biostatisticians may also work in the field of cardiovascular epidemiology, which focuses on the study of cardiovascular diseases in populations. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Dietitian or Nutritionist

Dietitians and nutritionists provide nutrition counseling and education to individuals and groups. They may specialize in one or more subfields of nutrition, including clinical nutrition, community nutrition, or foodservice management. This course may be useful for those considering a career in dietetics or nutrition because it provides a foundation in the risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Dietitians and nutritionists may also work in the field of cardiovascular nutrition, which focuses on the nutritional needs of people with cardiovascular diseases. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Exercise Physiologist

Exercise physiologists study the effects of exercise on the human body. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, fitness centers, and research institutions. This course may be useful for those considering a career in exercise physiology because it provides a foundation in the physiology of the cardiovascular system. Exercise physiologists may also work in the field of cardiac rehabilitation, which involves the use of exercise to improve the health of people with cardiovascular diseases. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and provide drug information to patients and other healthcare professionals. They may specialize in one or more subfields of pharmacy, including clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, or research pharmacy. This course may be useful for those considering a career in pharmacy because it provides a foundation in the pharmacology of cardiovascular medications. Pharmacists may also work in the field of cardiovascular pharmacy, which focuses on the medication management of people with cardiovascular diseases. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. They may specialize in one or more subfields of nursing, including critical care nursing, emergency nursing, or cardiac nursing. This course may be useful for those considering a career in nursing because it provides a foundation in the pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Nurses may also work in the field of cardiovascular nursing, which focuses on the care of people with cardiovascular diseases. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Public Health Educator

Public health educators develop and implement educational programs to promote health and prevent disease. They may specialize in one or more subfields of public health education, including health promotion, disease prevention, or community health. This course may be useful for those considering a career in public health education because it provides a foundation in the risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Public health educators may also work in the field of cardiovascular health promotion, which focuses on promoting healthy behaviors and preventing cardiovascular diseases. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Medical Writer

Medical writers create written materials about medical topics for a variety of audiences, including patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public. This course may be useful for those considering a career in medical writing because it provides a foundation in the pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Medical writers may also specialize in writing about cardiovascular topics. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators plan, organize, and manage healthcare organizations. They may specialize in one or more subfields of healthcare administration, including hospital administration, long-term care administration, or health insurance administration. This course may be useful for those considering a career in healthcare administration because it provides a foundation in the delivery of cardiovascular care. Healthcare administrators may also work in the field of cardiovascular health administration, which focuses on the management of cardiovascular care services. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Health Insurance Underwriter

Health insurance underwriters evaluate and assess risks associated with providing health insurance to individuals and groups. They may specialize in one or more subfields of health insurance underwriting, including life insurance underwriting, disability insurance underwriting, or long-term care insurance underwriting. This course may be useful for those considering a career in health insurance underwriting because it provides a foundation in the risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Health insurance underwriters may also specialize in underwriting cardiovascular risk. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Patient Advocate

Patient advocates represent and support patients in their interactions with healthcare providers and the healthcare system. This course may be useful for those considering a career as a patient advocate because it provides a foundation in the pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Patient advocates may also specialize in advocating for patients with cardiovascular diseases. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare consultants provide consulting services to healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. This course may be useful for those considering a career as a healthcare consultant because it provides a foundation in the delivery of cardiovascular care. Healthcare consultants may also specialize in consulting on cardiovascular care services. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in this subfield.

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