Cardiac Care >>

In a cardiac emergency, minutes can save a life. Call 911.

In an emergency, a hospital is the safest place to be. A national survey showed The Medical Center's emergency staff administered life-saving treatment to cardiac patients six minutes faster than the national average.

Lahey Cardiology at The Medical Center is our team of board certified cardiologists, on staff here and at Lahey Clinic, world-renowned for their cardiac care. ►

Heart disease is the number one health problem in the United States. We can help by provding the instruction, treatment, and support you need to maintain a healthy heart and lower your risk for developing cardiac illness. With our own comprehensive Cardiac Rehab program, we provide the education, support, and rehabilitation that heart disease patients — and their families — need to improve their health.

The Medical Center's new Cardiac Catheterization Lab literally improves the picture for our cardiac patients. In additional to diagnostic cardiac catheterization, the Cath Lab is used for pacemaker implantation and stent procedures as well as neurological studies. It offers many advantages:

• New digital equipment requires less radiation
• Images are sharper, delivered faster than before
• Doctors can request additional views while the exam is in progress, reducing the need for multiple exams
• Rotational equipment delivers 3-dimensional images, which facilitate more accurate diagnoses.

For more information about cardiac catheterization, go to WebMD and               

Today's Health.

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack (also called an acute myocardial infarction) happens when the arteries leading to the heart become blocked and the blood supply is slowed or stopped. When the heart muscle can't get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, the part of the heart tissue that is affected may die.

Symptoms can include:

• chest pain (often described as a crushing, squeezing, or burning pain in the center of the chest and may radiate to your arm or jaw)
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• faintness
• sweating
• nausea
• cold or clammy skin
• a gray or very ill appearance.

Sometimes there may be no symptoms, especially if you have diabetes. Women sometimes have different symptoms, such as a different kind of chest pain and/or abdominal pain.

(source: nhqualitycare.org)