Is it a heart attack? Quick action and expert care can make all the difference

A Q&A with Robert Armbruster, MD, a cardiologist at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Methodist Physicians Clinic

Each February, American Heart Month campaigns and events help highlight the importance of promoting heart health and preventing and treating the United States’ leading cause of death – heart disease. 

Heart disease can refer to several conditions, with the most common being coronary artery disease, which affects blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow can lead to several serious conditions, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure and arrhythmia.

Heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, are top of mind for many people and a condition I help treat regularly in Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. While heart attacks can be debilitating and deadly, patients can have successful outcomes if they recognize the condition and act quickly. 

What are typical symptoms of a heart attack?

The classic heart attack symptoms are chest pain and pressure. However, many people may experience more subtle ones such as upper back, neck or arm pain; shortness of breath; jaw discomfort; fatigue; nausea; or vomiting. Every patient can be a bit different, so listen to your body and be honest with yourself. You are your own first line of defense.

As cardiologist Charles Olson, MD, my colleague at Methodist Hospital, often says, “I’d rather you come to the emergency room for your indigestion than to stay at home for your heart attack.”

What should you do if you think you or a loved one might be having a heart attack?

“Time is muscle,” is a common phrase used to emphasize how serious a heart attack is. Yet, in many cases, someone experiencing one may wait 90 minutes or longer to seek medical care. We often see female, elderly and African American patients waiting even longer.

It’s important to take quick action because the longer the heart is without proper blood flow, the more damaged it can become. And a damaged heart can’t properly pump blood to your brain and the rest of your body.

The best thing to do is to call 911 immediately. Don’t wait out your symptoms. Don’t drive yourself or have a loved one take you to the hospital. You could put yourself and others at risk for an accident, and precious time could be lost. Not only could you arrive at a hospital later, but you also will have forgone the important early interventions that emergency responders can provide. 

I can’t stress this enough: During a heart attack, minutes matter for your long-term cardiac and neurological health.

What happens after a heart attack patient arrives at the hospital? 

Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs and Methodist Fremont Health all have cardiac catheterization labs and can perform percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Methodist Women’s Hospital in Omaha can diagnose and stabilize heart attack patients, then quickly transfer them to Methodist Hospital for essential care. 

Diagnosing a heart attack can involve an electrocardiogram (EKG), which is sometimes performed by emergency responders before a patient arrives; blood tests; catheterization; an echocardiogram; and other imaging.

When a heart attack is identified, PCI is the most common treatment. PCI uses a catheter inserted through the groin or wrist to guide a balloon to a blocked artery, opening it for stent placement to restore blood flow. The national standard to complete this work is within 90 minutes of a patient’s arrival, and Methodist’s specialists aim for well below that benchmark.

Additionally, our hospitals’ staff members are well equipped with noninvasive and minimally invasive approaches to treat heart failure and cardiac emergencies such as cardiac arrest. In cases where even more specialized care is required, patients benefit from quick referral and transfer to Methodist’s interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons in Omaha.

Committing to a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent a heart attack – reach out to a Methodist primary care provider to learn more – but cardiac emergencies can happen anytime. Knowing how to respond, and quickly, is key to having effective treatment and a positive recovery.

Dr. Robert Armbruster is a cardiologist at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Methodist Physicians Clinic. To schedule an appointment with him or another Methodist provider, visit bestcare.org/providers.