When your heart is under attack, you can turn to Uniontown Hospital for care
Heart attacks are considered one of the most serious cardiac conditions. Michael Desiderio, D.O., medical director of Cardiology at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, shares information on heart attack, treatment, prevention, and how Uniontown Hospital cares for patients suffering heart attack.
Q. What are the types or categories of heart attacks?
A. When many people think of heart attacks, they first think of sudden, severe pain in the middle of their chest that can spread to the arm or neck. This type of attack happens when fatty plaque, or buildup, in an artery breaks off and stops blood flow.
A ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a very severe attack that happens when an artery closes completely, often affecting the lower chambers of the heart.
However, there are also attacks that happen when an artery is significantly but not fully blocked. These may cause chest pain or shortness of breath that can improve when the person is at rest or stress is relieved.
Q. How is each type of heart attack treated?
A. When an artery is completely blocked, doctors must act fast and perform an emergent catheterization. This is where we use very small wires and balloons to open the artery and place a stent, a small metal tube, to keep it open. Other blockages are treated similarly but may be less urgent.
Medications are also very important, as they help prevent future heart attacks and keep the heart healthy. The medicines used can include aspirin, statins, taken to lower cholesterol, and beta- blockers, to help relax the heart.
Q. How is the Uniontown Hospital team ready to care for heart attack patients?
A. Uniontown Hospital is a STEMI receiving center and has an award- winning cardiac catheterization lab staffed with experienced providers, nurses, and technicians, who are ready to help when patients are in need.
Q. What does it mean to be a STEMI receiving center?
A. As a STEMI receiving center, Uniontown Hospital can take in patients with these severe heart attacks right away.
Q. Why is having a STEMI receiving center here in Uniontown important for our community?
A. It means residents of Uniontown and surrounding areas can rely on us to get fast, lifesaving care when their heart needs us the most.
Q. What can you do to be proactive and protect your heart?
A. The best thing you can do for your heart is to live a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and don’t use tobacco. These simple choices can make a big difference in keeping your heart strong.
For more information on cardiac services at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital or to schedule an appointment with a provider today, visit WVUMedicine.org/ Uniontown/Cardiology.
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