EKG detects an
abnormal
heartbeat
(arrhythmia).
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Severe chest pain or a squeezing, tight pressure
in the chest (the pain may radiate to the shoulder,
neck, jaw, or arm, causing shortness of breath,
nausea, and breaking out in a sweat)
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Especially in women, pain in the shoulder, neck,
back, or jaw
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Severe palpitations
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Fainting or extreme light-headedness
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Persistent heartburn symptoms.
Never drive yourself or
a loved one experiencing these
symptoms to the hospital.
Call 911
instead.
To keep the artery open,
the IC will most likely place a
stent. He or she might prescribe
medication and lifestyle changes.
EKG confirms heart
attack is caused by an
artery blockage
.
Depending on the severity and cause of
the blockage, the IC will either administer
medication to break down the blockage or
perform a minimally invasive angioplasty
procedure, which opens the blocked artery
and restores blood flow to the heart.
W
hen you’ve got
problems with
your pipes, you
call a plumber, and
when you’ve got
problems with your
power, you call an
electrician. But your
house isn’t the only
one that has these
pros on hand.
Methodist Richardson
Medical Center also
has “plumbers” and
“electricians” on its
medical staff to help your
heart when it’s in trouble.
The plumbers, or
interventional cardiologists
(ICs), step in when arteries
are clogged and blocking
blood flow to your heart.
The electricians, or
electrophysiologists
(EPs), correct glitches
that cause the heart to
beat abnormally or stop
beating altogether.
Here cardiologists Nhan
Nguyen, MD, FACC, and
Sumeet Chhabra, MD,
break down how these
two types of specialists can
help in an emergency —
and help prevent one in
the first place.
Call 911 immediately. On the way to the hospital, emergency
medical services will perform an EKG, or electrocardiogram.
Depending on the severity
of the symptoms and the
type of arrhythmia, the EP
will administer medicine,
apply shock energy to the
heart to reset the rhythm, or
remove abnormal electrical cells.
To help maintain
a steady heart
rhythm in the long
run,
the EP might
implant a pacemaker
or defibrillator or
prescribe medication.
Any combination of these
symptoms may mean you’re
having a
heart attack
:
Even
hearts
have hand
