Know The Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack
It’s estimated that 85% of muscle damage takes place within the first two hours of a heart attack. While some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most start slowly with just mild pain or discomfort. If you or someone else is experiencing any of the below signs of a heart attack, please call 9-1-1 immediately:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Arm tingling or pain
- Clamminess
- Shortness of breath
- Jaw pain
- Nausea and vomiting
What To Expect
Paramedics notify our Chest Pain Center team when a heart attack patient is on the way. Upon arrival, we will do a rapid assessment, including heart monitoring and a blood test to measure heart muscle damage. We may also do an electrocardiogram, if not already done by the paramedic on the way to the hospital.
If confirmed to be a heart attack, our Chest Pain Center team will perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as angioplasty, to open the vessels quickly as quickly as possible and restore blood flow to the heart.
We strive to ensure that our "door-to-balloon" time (from arrival to vessel-opening) averages 60 minutes or less—well below the 90-minute benchmark recommended by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Your Heart Is In Good Hands With Us
Both our Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers have been designated as STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) Receiving Centers for high-risk heart attack patients by Contra Costa County Emergency Medical Services.
The STEMI team is activated when the hospital is notified by Emergency Medical Services providers that a heart attack patient is en route to the hospital. Once the patient arrives, rapid assessment, diagnosis and, when indicated, immediate coronary intervention is provided. Our objective is to ensure that our doorto-balloon times average 60 minutes or less in accordance with guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Our Locations
Emergency Room at Concord Medical Center
Emergency Room at Walnut Creek Medical Center
