Heart Attack Treatment
During a heart attack, every minute counts. That’s why St. Bernards Medical Center offers lifesaving care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The moment we learn of your heart attack, we start preparing for your treatment—even if you’re not yet at our hospital. Count on us for the rapid response you need to save your heart.
When to Call 911
Timely care starts with you. Call 911 as soon as you experience heart attack symptoms, such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and lightheadedness
- Flu-like symptoms, including chills and cold sweats
- Heart palpitations (unusual heartbeats)
- Chest discomfort: pain, tightness or pressure in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
- Discomfort in other areas, including one or both arms (especially the left arm), the back, between the shoulder blades, neck, jaw or stomach
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Extreme fatigue
Women are more likely to feel pain in the back or shoulders than in the chest. They may also experience headaches or dizziness.
No matter which symptoms you have, don’t try to drive yourself to the hospital. The ambulance team will care for you on the way there and tell us you’re coming, so you can bypass the emergency room and go straight to treatment. Calling 911 may improve your long-term outcome.
Angioplasty Stops a Heart Attack
Heart attacks happen when fat in an artery blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. To restore blood flow and stop the heart attack, St. Bernards Medical Center uses a procedure called angioplasty. A doctor inserts a tiny balloon into an artery and guides it to the blockage. The balloon inflates, widening the blood vessel. Then, the doctor places a tiny tube called a stent in the artery to keep it open. The stent stays in your body, but your doctor withdraws the balloon.
We often provide angioplasty within 45 minutes of a heart attack patient’s arrival. That’s twice as fast as the national standard of 90 minutes.
Recognitions & Awards
St. Bernards Medical Center is a designated Advanced Primary Heart Attack Center by The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading accrediting agency for hospitals. Other hospitals in northeast Arkansas send heart attack patients to us for high-quality treatment.
We earned these awards from the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Program for providing excellent care when you arrive and leave the hospital:
STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) heart attacks are the most dangerous type because they result from totally blocked arteries. Partially blocked blood flow causes NSTEMI (Non-STEMI) heart attacks.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation helps you safely regain strength and endurance. We’ll develop an exercise and education program to meet your goals for a healthier life. With one-on-one guidance and group classes, you’ll get the valuable tools you need to recover.
