Time is Heart Muscle
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but many begin slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Some people don’t want to believe they’re experiencing a heart attack, otherwise known as an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). That’s why half of all people experiencing heart attacks wait more than two hours before seeking help. As a result, approximately 250,000 of the 1.1 million Americans who experience a heart attack each year die before they get to a hospital. If you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack, don’t wait longer than five minutes before seeking help. For every moment you wait, you risk further damage to the heart muscle and increase the risk that you or the victim will not survive the heart attack, or that quality of life after the heart attack will be diminished. Blood flow to the heart muscle must be restored quickly, within 90 to 120 minutes of the beginning of the heart attack. That’s why it’s so important you call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital emergency department immediately. To clear the clogged artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle, physicians will administer clot-busting drugs or perform angioplasty, a non-surgical procedure that uses tiny balloons to widen the blocked area. All U.S. hospitals can administer clot-dissolving drugs. However, not all hospitals can perform emergency coronary angioplasties, which require an expertly trained team of cardiologists, nurses and technologists working in a specially equipped room and backed by an experienced cardiovascular surgery team. Chest Pain–Code AMI: The Most Advanced Heart Attack Treatment Available
Recent clinical studies indicate that opening the clogged artery of a patient using angioplasty within 90 minutes of the onset of a heart attack minimizes damage to the heart muscle, reduces complications and produces better long-term outcomes than administering angioplasty later than 90 minutes or treating the heart attack with drug therapy alone. According to medical research published in the U.S. and Europe, drug therapy is ineffective in some patients and sometimes causes undesirable side effects. Angioplasty, on the other hand, stops the heart attack in its tracks. It is considered a safer, more effective treatment for heart attacks. However, not all community hospitals in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys have the technology and expertise to provide this state-of-the-art treatment. Using a 90-minute timeline as a core performance measure, Providence Saint Joseph and Providence Holy Cross Medical Centers have established a specialized program in each hospital, Chest Pain-Code AMI, to ensure every patient who appears to be having a heart attack receives expedited diagnosis and treatment according to the most appropriate, advanced medical guidelines. In fact, the California Office of State Health Planning and Development reports Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center produces significantly better than expected heart attack treatment outcomes, and healthcare quality evaluation agency Healthgrades® rates Providence Holy Cross Medical Center as the number one provider of heart care in the San Fernando Valley. Remember, if you suspect that you or someone else is having a heart attack, seek help immediately and be sure to trust your heart to a leading, state-of-the-art provider of cardiac care such as Providence Saint Joseph or Providence Holy Cross Medical Centers. Plan to Survive
If you’re the one experiencing heart attack symptoms, call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) closest to you. If you’re not able to access EMS, have someone else drive you to the hospital. Don’t drive yourself unless you have absolutely no other option. Before there’s an emergency, it’s a good idea to identify the closest hospital to your home or office with 24-hour emergency cardiac care. In any emergency situation, it’s always wise to have your personal medical records with you to give to emergency personnel, which will enable them to help you more quickly. Complete the attached personal information card, detach it and put it in your wallet — your vital information will always be at hand. Heart Disease: The Silent Predator
More than twice as many Americans will die from heart disease or stroke than will die from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, being physically inactive or having a family history of heart disease all increase an individual’s risk for developing heart disease. And if you’re over 40 or a person of color, your risk is even higher. To reduce your risk for heart attack or other heart problems, ask your personal physician to assess your risk for developing cardiovascular disease and to provide recommendations to help you improve your heart health.
Advanced Treatment for Heart Attacks Warning Signs
You may be having a heart attack if you experience: - Chest discomfort, pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cold sweat.
- Nausea or stomach sickness.
- Dizziness or light-headedness.
Time is Critical
If you suspect you or someone else is having a heart attack don't wait longer than five minutes before seeking help. Call 9-1-1. Go to a hospital emergency department (ED) immediately. Bring personal medical records to the ED. When in doubt, seek medical advice. Know Your Risk
More than twice as many Americans will die from heart disease or stroke than will die from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. Major Risk Factors - High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Being physically inactive
- Family history of heart disease
- Age over 40
- Being a person of color
For more information about heart disease and Chest Pain–Code AMI at Providence Saint Joseph and Providence Holy Cross Medical Centers or to receive a FREE physician referral, call 1-888-HEALING (1-888-432-5464).
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