Accredited Chest Pain Center

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Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital is accredited as a chest pain center by the American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services. Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital offers numerous programs specially designed to get heart attack patients the care they need as soon as possible after the onset of their symptoms. This chest pain center protocol allows physicians to reduce the time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack, when treatments are most effective.

One of the most commonly treated conditions in the ER is chest pain. Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital offers Level 1 Heart, a system that enhances the level of care for acute heart attack patients in the region. Level I Heart incorporates a phone system that connects Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital to Lutheran which integrates the physicians, staff and surgical teams to expedite care.

If patients are experiencing chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack and need immediate access to a cardiac catheterization lab, our sister facility Lutheran Hospital offers 24-hour interventional cardiology as part of its accredited chest pain center. The cardiac cath lab is staffed and ready to go 24/7. If the ER physician at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital determines the patient is having a heart-related event, the patient can be immediately transferred to the lab for a catheterization utilizing the Level 1 Heart process.

Common early warning signs of a heart attack include:

• Cold sweats
• Pain in one or both arms
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness, fullness or pressure in the chest

Women may have other, less common warning signs, including:

• Back pain
• Dizziness
• Faintness
• Pain in the neck, shoulders or jaw
• Stomach or abdominal pain or discomfort
• Unexplained anxiety
• Unexplained fatigue or weakness

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone you know experiences a heart attack symptom.

Minimize the effects of the following risk factors to help prevent a heart attack:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Inactivity
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Stress
• Type 2 diabetes

Practice heart-healthy habits to decrease the risk of heart disease.

• Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Do not smoke or use tobacco.
• Eat heart-healthy foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Manage blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Manage stress.
• Schedule regular medical checkups.