Alexithymia affects the time from symptom onset to calling the emergency system in STEMI patients referred for primary PCI

Determination of the Alexithymia in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

“…Their inability to distinguish their emotional arousal from their physical arousal is often explained by their use of physical symptoms to express their feelings (3,4). They may also face the risks of not being able to receive effective treatment on time in the event of a physical and emotional illness (5,6). Therefore, sensitivity to bodily symptoms and emotions plays an important role in symptom perception, treatment and care process (2).…”

“…Oxygen deprivation in MI requires urgent medical attention and causes damage to heart tissue and death of tissue, which requires urgency for early diagnosis and reperfusion treatment for good prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary for patients to be aware of their symptoms, to recognize and distinguish their symptoms as soon as possible, to seek help and to reach medical intervention (5,10). However, alexithymic features in MI increase medical admissions by causing higher perception of physical symptoms and increase mortality by preventing patients from taking appropriate treatment (1).…”

“…Furthermore, the tendency for low somatic and emotional awareness in alexithymia reduces the perception and/ or reporting of cardiac symptoms, thus causing excessive delays in receiving medical attention (4). Early recognition of symptoms such as chest pain, respiratory distress, sweating, nausea and vomiting, which are the first symptoms in MI, is very important for the initiation of life-saving interventions (5). However, patients with alexithymia may lose the chance of early treatment due to their inability to recognize cardiac symptoms (1,5).…”

“…Early recognition of symptoms such as chest pain, respiratory distress, sweating, nausea and vomiting, which are the first symptoms in MI, is very important for the initiation of life-saving interventions (5). However, patients with alexithymia may lose the chance of early treatment due to their inability to recognize cardiac symptoms (1,5). The ability of patients to accurately and timely describe their cardiac problems facilitates treatment and care possibilities.…”

“…The ability of patients to accurately and timely describe their cardiac problems facilitates treatment and care possibilities. For this reason, it is very important for patients having MI to recognize and describe their feelings (5,10). A study found a significant relationship between somatic and emotional awareness and delay in admission of patients having MI, and it was determined that patients who were unable to describe their emotions, bodily sensations and internal experiences were admitted to the hospital later for MI symptoms (10).…”