About half of the deaths from heart and blood vessel disease each year are from heart attacks, also called a myocardial infarction. According to the American Heart Association, about 250,000 people a year die as a result of a heart attack before they arrive at a hospital.

Many of these deaths can be prevented by acting fast. In addition, the faster you seek treatment, the more heart muscle you can save. If you or a loved one suspects a heart attack, call for help immediately and get to a hospital right away. Don't delay — half of all people having a heart attack wait more than two hours before getting help, with serious or deadly consequences. Minutes literally do count during a heart attack.
 
Saint John's ER staff work closely with cardiologists to quickly treat heart attack patients.

A patient with chest pain coming to Saint John's Health Center Emergency Department (ER) is assured of the highest quality care, delivered by a team of providers who work together to ensure superior diagnosis and treatment. Once the ER is notified by paramedics that a patient is on the way, the ER doctor alerts a heart care team of nurses and cardiologists. We are able to provide an EKG in three minutes or less, and an angiogram can be performed in less than an hour. As a result, Saint John's is one of only 14 hospitals in California recognized for treating heart attacks.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is stopped or severely reduced. The medical term for heart attack is myocardial infarction and happens when one or more of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle are blocked. If the blood supply is cut off for more than a few minutes, muscle cells will begin to die — killing or disabling the heart attack victim, depending on how much damage occurs.

Possible Symptoms of a Heart Attack

The symptoms of a heart attack can be sudden and painful, or they can be subtle and drawn out. Sometimes the heart attack victim is unsure what is happening and delays treatment. Signs of a heart attack include:

• Chest pain (uncomfortable pain, pressure, squeezing or fullness in the center of the chest which lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back)
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath, dizziness or difficulty breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Extreme fatigue
• Indigestion (heartburn)

HEART FAILURE

Each year, an estimated 550,000 Americans are diagnosed with heart failure. It affects nearly five million people and is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65, according to the American Heart Association.

What is Heart Failure?

Many people mistakenly believe that heart failure means that the heart has suddenly stopped working. Heart failure is a chronic condition that occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. This condition does not occur overnight, but is a progressive disease that worsens over time, causing the heart's pumping power to gradually weaken. Usually by the time a patient suffering from heart failure is diagnosed, the heart has been losing its normal ability to pump for some time.

What Happens During Heart Failure?

The heart tries to compensate for the loss of pumping power in a variety of ways. The heart chamber may enlarge, allowing it to pump more blood. The heart may begin pumping faster to increase the heart's output, and it may develop more muscle mass to allow the heart to pump more strongly. The body also tries to compensate by diverting blood away from less important tissues and organs to maintain normal flow to the heart and brain. None of these measures will cure heart failure, however, and eventually the patient will begin to experience noticeable symptoms.

What are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of heart failure depend on how weak your heart has become and can include:

• Rapid or irregular heartbeats
• Shortness of breath
• Fluid and water retention (swelling)
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
• Weakness, fatigue and dizziness or confusion
• Swollen legs

If you have heart failure, you may experience one or more of these symptoms, or none at all — making it vital to schedule regular check-ups with your doctor.

What Causes Heart Failure?

A number of conditions can damage the heart muscle, causing heart failure. These include coronary artery disease, heart attack, infections, alcohol or drug abuse, as well as conditions that overwork or injure the heart, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney and thyroid disease and congenital heart disease.

How is Heart Failure Treated?

The first course of treatment usually involves medication and changes in diet and lifestyle. As the condition progresses, there are advanced treatment options available today, and your physician will help determine the best course of treatment for you. Saint John's Heart Institute provides a full range of state-of-the-art services for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.