Recognize & Treat Heart Attack in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. A heart attack can permanently damage the heart muscle. It is a life-threatening condition.

Call 911 if you or someone you are with is having a heart attack.

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican hospitals provides award-winning care for heart attack in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV, through our emergency services. Our Siena and San Martín Campuses received the Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center Silver Award from the American Heart Association in 2023 for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. 

Heart Attack Symptoms

Heart attack symptoms may be sudden or come on gradually over the course of a day, several days, or even weeks. 

Call 911 if you or someone near you experiences: 

  • Feelings of pain, fullness, squeezing, pressure, or burning in the chest that may move to the arms, shoulders, jaw, belly, or back
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Cold sweats

Keep in mind that, in addition to chest pain, women are more likely to experience subtle symptoms such as fatigue and nausea when having a heart attack.

Early heart attack treatment can prevent long-term disability, preserve heart function, and save your life.

 

Causes of Myocardial Infarction

A block in blood flow to the heart means the heart receives less oxygen. Without oxygen and other nutrients, heart cells start to die. This leads to a heart attack.

Different reasons for blocked or reduced blood flow to the heart include: 

  • Blood clots and plaque buildup in the coronary arteries — the most common cause of heart attack
  • Spontaneous coronary artery dissection, an abrupt tear in the coronary artery that traps blood and blocks more blood flow through the artery to the heart
  • Spasm of a coronary artery, narrowing the artery, blocking or slowing blood flow

 

Diagnosing Heart Attack

Doctors use several tests to diagnose a heart attack and assess damage:

  • Electrocardiogram (EKG or EGC) shows your heart’s rate, rhythm, and electrical activity.
  • Blood tests detect proteins released by damaged heart muscle.
  • Coronary angiography looks for artery blockages using X-rays and dye injections.
  • Echocardiogram and 3D echocardiogram are ultrasound tests that show heart function and structure.
  • Chest X-ray can find extra heart fluid or heart enlargement, both of which can be signs of heart disease or damage.

 

Treating Heart Attack at Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Hospitals

Cardiac treatments offered at our hospitals include:

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican hospitals treats heart attacks in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.