What is a Chest Pain Center?

A Chest Pain Center is a process that starts from the time a patient calls 911 until that patient is discharged from the hospital. It encompasses every aspect of our entire team starting with Maury 911, EMS, emergency department, cardiac catheterization lab, cardiovascular operating room, critical care departments, all the way to our step-down and cardiovascular floor. We integrate our care processes across all of these departments to improve patient outcomes and ensure you are receiving the excellent care you deserve.

Why choose Maury Regional Medical Center for cardiac care?

When it comes to heart attacks, you need to get the right treatment fast.  Not every emergency department can offer you the same state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and on-site surgical options that are available at Maury Regional.

In June of 2008, the Society of Chest Pain Centers granted accreditation to Maury Regional Medical Center. Nationally recognized experts verified that heart attack patients receive the best possible care while at Maury Regional Medical Center. The Society has very strict criteria and only accredits those facilities that closely follow the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s recommendations to improve and save lives.

With faster diagnoses and rapid cardiac intervention, Maury Regional can help prevent or even reverse muscle damage to your heart. We offer:

• 24 hour cardiac catheterization laboratory
• 24 hour on-site angioplasty/coronary intervention
• Cardiovascular operating room for open heart on-site with 24 hour coverage

Being accredited means you can be confident that we have the right team and equipment available day and night to stop a heart attack in its tracks.  Our experienced EMS and emergency team members can quickly identify patients who need cardiac intervention, thus preventing further muscle damage to your heart.

Recognizing a heart attack

Many people believe that heart attacks are sudden and powerful, like those you see on television. The truth is that recognizing a heart attack is not that easy. Most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain or discomfort.  Symptoms might come and go or vary in intensity. You may even feel like you are coming down with the flu, have indigestion or a pulled muscle. Even if you have already had a heart attack, the symptoms can be different each time.

Recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack and reacting quickly is crucial to save your life or that of a loved one. Being aware of all the possible symptoms of a heart attack will ensure you or your loved one receive the right treatment quickly. This is especially important for women, who tend to have symptoms other than chest pain, such as nausea, vomiting, back or jaw pain.

Heart attack symptoms can be broken down into four categories. If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed below, do not wait. Seek treatment right away, even if you do not think it is a heart attack. Reacting quickly can make a difference not only in chances of your survival but in how you live your life after a heart attack.

Symptoms of a heart attack

Chest Discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Shortness of Breath: Often comes along with chest discomfort but it can also occur before you experience chest discomfort.

Other symptoms: Some people might break out in a cold sweat or experience nausea or light-headedness.

React in Time

If you have any heart attack symptoms, seek emergency help within 5 minutes. CALL 911 – do not drive yourself to the emergency department.

Links:

www.americanheart.org

www.goredforwomen.org