When Every Second Counts in an an Emergency, Hometown Hospital Is Your First Choice
The sooner you or a loved one receives treatment during a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening injury, the greater your chances for survival. And that makes Hometown Hospital your best choice when you need medical attention fast. Not only are we the medical facility that’s most accessible during an emergency, our 24/7 ER is manned with specially trained physicians and staff who use state-of-the-art equipment, diagnostic technology, comprehensive surgical capabilities, and many other life-saving resources.
So why is seeking medical help as quickly as possible so important during an emergency situation? To answer that question, let’s consider what happens to your body during a heart attack.
Having a Heart Attack
Most heart attacks occur due to a blockage in the vessels that supply the heart with blood. That blockage is usually caused by a buildup of plaque, a sticky substance made of fats, cholesterol and white blood cells. If the blockage is 100 percent, the heart is no longer receiving the oxygen-rich blood it needs.
In response to a full or partial blockage, your body sends a signal to the spinal cord saying that the heart is in trouble. You may start to sweat a lot and experience pain in the chest, jaw, arms and hands. Breathing becomes harder and harder because the heart is no longer supplying your lungs with enough blood to function at full capacity. You can begin to feel dizzy and even pass out because of the resulting lack of oxygen. The muscles of your heart start to die. Once heart muscle dies, it cannot be regenerated.
That’s the reason doctors call the first hour after a heart attack the “golden hour.” It’s the most critical time to provide medical care, including clot-busting drugs and artery-opening medications, that can save lives and prevent permanent damage to the heart and other organs, but only if the patient receives medical care as soon as possible.
Our Lifesaving ER Capabilities
Here’s a partial list of the medical technologies we use to treat patients experiencing heart attack symptoms.
EKG
An EKG (short for electrocardiogram) is often the first test used to diagnose a heart attack. This quick, painless test checks the heart’s electrical activity and records any disturbances to the heart’s rhythm. It can also help doctors detect any damage to the heart muscle.
Enzyme Testing
During a heart attack, the heart releases certain enzymes, proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body. By measuring these cardiac enzymes, our ER physicians can quickly determine if you are having a heart attack.
Oxygen
Giving oxygen can help reduce the damage done to heart tissue.
Medications
Aspirin, nitroglycerin and clot-busting drugs can be used to prevent the formation of blood clots, open the blocked artery and restore blood flow.
Clear!
If the heart stops during a heart attack, our ER team is highly trained in the use of an automated external defibrillator or AED. This machine sends an electrical shock to jump-start a heart that has stopped beating and restore its normal rhythm.
CT Coronary Angiography
This test shows where arteries are blocked by injecting a dye into the bloodstream that is visible on X-rays.
Air Ambulance
If needed, our air ambulance service can transport patients who require additional care once they are stabilized.
More Cardiac Care Resources
Whether it’s detecting and treating heart disease or recovering from a heart attack, Hometown Hospital and our team of specialists offer a comprehensive range of additional services and technology.
Stress Echocardiography
High frequency sound waves (ultrasound) are used to examine the heart’s structure and function.
Vascular Studies
This non-invasive procedure uses sound waves to assess the blood flow in the arteries and veins.
Stress Test
Sometimes called a treadmill or exercise test, a stress test is used to locate the cause of chest pain. During the test, the patient begins to walk on a treadmill at a slow pace and then gradually increases speed. The patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing are constantly monitored, and an EKG measures the response of the heart to the stress of exercising.
Holter Monitoring
A Holter monitor is a portable, battery-powered device, about the size of a small camera. It’s used to check and diagnose heart rhythm disturbances such as palpitations or arrhythmia. The Holter monitor records the heart’s activity over a 24-hour period or longer as the patient goes about his or her daily activities. The information collected is then analyzed by a cardiologist to determine the cause of the symptoms.
Cardiac Rehab
After a heart attack, people who participate in a cardiac rehab program have a 50 percent greater survival rate after three years compared to people who don’t. Unfortunately, only about half of heart attack victims participate fully in a cardiac rehab program. Our team of specialists, nurses, dieticians and physical therapists can help you stop smoking, manage your blood pressure, create a heart-healthy diet, and develop an exercise program customized to your specific needs and goals.
Coronary Care Unit
Our coronary care unit provides 24/7 monitoring and treatment of patients with severe cardiac medical conditions, including heart attacks, angina and congestive heart failure.
Sources: WebMD, medicinenet.com, American Heart Association