When a potential heart attack victim arrives at Hometown Hospital, our team of ER physicians, nurses and medical specialists take immediate action. Their first treatments focus on opening the blockage that triggered the attack. Beta-blockers decrease chest pain and improve blood flow. ACE Inhibitors block the production of an enzyme that causes blood vessels to narrow. Oxygen therapy helps the lungs to breathe and reduces the workload of the heart. In addition, a full range of medical technology is available to help with specific diagnosis and treatment.
• EKG (ECG/EKG (Electrocardiogram): Uses electrodes to monitor the heart rate and rhythm and check for possible damage to the heart muscle as a result of a heart attack.
• Echocardiogram: Uses sound waves to create a video image of the heart and checks the structure of the heart for damage.
• Blood Test: Checks the levels of cardiac enzymes and other indicators of a heart attack.
• Chest X-ray: Checks for an enlarged heart or fluid build-up in the lungs.
• Cardiac CT Scan: An advanced X-ray machine that moves around the body to produce 3D images.
• Cardiac MRI: Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create a detailed image of the heart.
• Angiogram: A procedure that takes a movie of the heart in action by injecting a special fluid, called a contrast, which is visible to X-rays.
• Cardiac Catheterization: Technology that allows doctors to see and open up a blocked artery.
• Coronary Angioplasty: A procedure that can help restore the blood flow when coronary arteries become narrow or blocked. A thin flexible tube with a balloon on its tip is threaded through the coronary artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to widen the artery. In many cases, a small wire mesh tube, called a stent, is placed in the artery to help keep it open.
Other cardiovascular services available at Hometown Hospital include:
• Stress Test: Patients walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike to check the heart’s performance under exertion.
• Holter Monitoring: This lightweight, portable device can record a patient’s heart rhythms outside the hospital.
• Cardiac Rehab: After a heart attack, people who participate in a cardiac rehab program have more than a 50 percent greater survival rate compared to those who don’t.
In addition, our team of cardiologists, nurses, dietitians and physical therapists can provide ongoing support, education, counseling and services after your heart attack to promote a faster recovery and a healthier lifestyle.
Source: CDC, American Heart Association, http://verywellhealth.com/