Cardiac emergencies, by far, result in the most calls to EMS. Most medical emergencies involving the heart are associated with chest pain or discomfort due to the fact that your heart does not have pain receptors of its own. The nerves of the heart signal the surrounding pain receptors to respond, such as the chest, arm, neck and back. Two of the most serious heart conditions are angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

A heart attack, otherwise known as a "myocardial infarction" is a Latin term which means "death of heart muscle." Heart attack pain may or may not come on during times of stress or exertion and will not be relieved with rest, relaxation or angina medications. Heart attack patients describe their pain in many different ways. They may complain of slight chest pain or discomfort or they may tell you they have a crushing, heavy sensation in the center of their chest. They may use words like squeezing, tightness, aching, unbearable or oppressive to describe what they are feeling. Additionally, the pain may radiate to the jaw, shoulder, arm or back. Difficulty breathing is another common complaint of the cardiac patient. These patients are often pale or gray and their skin is cool and moist to the touch.

A patient with a known heart condition will usually tell you about it and may have medication available to relieve the symptoms. If their condition has progressed from angina to an actual heart attack, their medicine may not be effective. Your main focus in a cardiac emergency should be to activate EMS as quickly as possible and treat the symptoms you find. Nearly 90 percent of heart attack fatalities occur within two hours of the onset of pain. Rapid intervention can get this patient the help they need in a timely manner.

Time is so critical for these patients, waiting to call for help may mean the difference between life and death. A cardiac arrest victim without resuscitative efforts, loses 10% chance of surviving every minute that passes. After 10 minutes, a patient's chance of returning to normal function is virtually nothing. By calling for help and starting lifesaving procedures immediately after a heart attack, you can significantly increase your patient's chance of leading a normal 8. productive life.

Many people refuse to believe they are having a serious medical problem, i.e., a "heart attack." This phenomenon is so common it has been given a name, cardiac denial. As a result of this phenomenon, patients wait too long to call for help and many needless cardiac deaths occur each year. Some cardiac patients support cardiac denial with excuses like: "I'm too young to have a heart attack", "I'll be embarrassed if it's just indigestion", "1 don't want to scare my spouse", or the familiar "I don't want to inconvenience those nice people at 911." Your awareness of signs and symptoms of a heart attack and chest pain must override your patient's protests that nothing is wrong. Even if they are a little upset with you, in a true emergency, calling 911 immediately is always the right decision. Any chest pain or discomfort is cause enough to activate the EMS system and seek help.

Medical science has come a long way in its approach and treatment of heart attacks. If discovered soon enough, heart attacks can be successfully treated and possibly reversed with the right intervention. Each year, new treatment options become available for heart attack victims and provide hope for their families.

Angioplasty is a procedure in which a narrow catheter is inserted into the blocked section of the coronary artery. This catheter has a deflated balloon attached to it. Once inside the artery, the balloon is inflated and the components of the blockage are compressed against the sides of the affected vessel. If done quickly enough after the onset of pain, angioplasty may relieve the blockage of a heart attack.

Medical science is using medications called "clot buster drugs." These medications actually melt away the blockage inside the affected vessel and, if given quickly enough, can actually open the coronary vessels. By allowing blood flow to resume to the heart, these drugs can keep heart muscle alive that may have otherwise died. The newest research now shows that if a second drug, sometimes referred to as "super aspirin" is given along with clot busters, the need for surgical intervention can be dramatically reduced. Testing has shown clots dissolving in as little as 60-90 minutes by using this combination of drugs.

The most definitive treatment to correct damage from heart attacks is coronary bypass surgery, also known as "open-heart surgery." During bypass, blood vessels are taken from other parts of the patient's body and used to reroute blood around the blockage. Veins taken from the lower leg and arteries from the forearm are used to bypass the blockages. Some surgeons use arteries from the chest wall and graft these into the heart. Studies show arteries last longer than veins in a bypass situation. By replacing blockages with arteries, we're prolonging the life expectancy of the bypass. The newest development in bypass is the ability to perform this surgery without stopping the heart, thereby reducing the risk of death during surgery. Open-heart surgery is by far the most invasive treatment for a heart attack.

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Research now focuses on the use of gene therapy which may allow the heart to generate new blood vessels to assist the diseased ones. These natural bypasses may allow the heart to partially mend itself by adding new blood vessels as needed. According to scientists, this exciting new discovery is still a ways off from general use, but it has shown very promising results.

Recently, the FDA approved a new stent for use during angioplasty procedures. The Cypher stent is cutting-edge due to the fact that it is drug-eluting. One common problem after angioplasty is the occurrence of re-stenosis in the artery. This causes tissue to form and create a new blockage. The Cypher stmt, with its drug releasing capabilities, show significant reduction in the rate of re-blockage. In fact, the Cypher stent may be able to reduce the rate of re-stenosis by up to two-thirds. Although in very high demand now, in the future these stents will be as common-place as the angioplasty surgery itself.

Far and away, the best mode of treatment for heart disease is prevention. Diet, exercise and controlling risk factors such as stress, diabetes and smoking are your best bet to stay heart attack free.