Know the signs of heart attack.

Typical signs for both men and women:

· Discomfort or pain in the center of the chest
· Discomfort in the arm(s), back, neck, jaw or stomach
· Difficulty breathing
· Heartburn, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
· Cold sweats or clammy skin
· Dizziness or light-headedness
· Pounding heart or change in rhythm

Signs more common for women (often without chest pain or discomfort)

· Milder symptoms
· Sudden onset of weakness, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches or overall feeling of illness 
 
Act quickly! If you have any of these symptoms, call 911.
Acting quickly is crucial to save your life or that of a loved one.

Studies show accredited Chest Pain Centers save 37% more lives.

Impressed? We were. That's why El Camino Hospital was the first hospital in the South Bay and Peninsula to gain accreditation. As an accredited Chest Pain Center we offer state-of-the-art, rapid assessment and treatment of potential heart attack 24 hours daily. Patients experiencing the early stages of heart attack are treated immediately to minimize or prevent heart attack.

Why choose El Camino Hospital's Chest Pain Center?

El Camino Hospital exceeds national standards to rapidly assess and treat ischemic heart disease. Time is critical when it comes to chest pain. So we continue to push ourselves to streamline processes and enhance teamwork to deliver the very best care.

Time from arrival to treatment
National standards:   Less than 90 minutes
El Camino Hospital Chest Pain Center:   Less than 60 minutes

At El Camino Hospital, the Chest Pain Center process starts from the moment a patient calls 911 and is transported to El Camino Hospital's emergency department. 

When a patient’s ECG indicates that he or she has the most urgent kind of heart attack (100% blockage of a blood vessel to the heart) –called ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) – arrives at El Camino Hospital's emergency department, he or she is rapidly assessed, given appropriate diagnostic tests and transported to the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

This systematic approach has resulted in a superior "time to treatment" during the critical early stages of a heart attack when treatments are most effective. The emergency department, patient transport services, cath lab teams, along with interventional cardiologists, all work together in a well-rehearsed process to achieve the best results for patients.

Why is accreditation important?

Accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers means that El Camino Hospital's Chest Pain Center meets or exceeds the rigorous national guidelines for acute coronary syndrome care of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Accreditation with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) means that the Chest Pain Center also meets national standards for more aggressive treatment approach using cardiac catheterization (angioplasty), versus medical treatment alone, to clear the blockage and rapidly re-establish blood flow to the heart to minimize damage or avoid heart attack.

Our highly specialized Chest Pain Center Team also monitors patients when it is not clear whether or not they are having a heart attack to ensure essential testing is completed and premature discharge is avoided.

The Society of Chest Pain Centers awarded full accreditation with PCI to El Camino Hospital in July 2008 for its treatment of acute coronary syndrome.

Know the signs of heart attack (particularly urgent for individuals with a history of heart disease or chest pain unrelieved by rest and lasting more than 5 minutes).

Reduce your risk

Causes of chest pain can vary, from heartburn and stress, to more serious heart conditions. You can reduce your risk of the latter by following these tips. Learn more about our wellness and disease prevention programs here.

• Don't smoke.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat foods low in salt and fat, but high in fiber. These include vegetables, whole grains and fruits.
• Exercise three or more times a week.
• Find ways to reduce and control stress in your life.

The Emergency Services Department is located at:

El Camino Hospital
Old Main Hospital Building
(Entrance is on Hospital Drive)
2500 Grant Road | First Floor
Mountain View, CA 94039

In an emergency situation call 911 for help.

For more information about the Chest Pain Center and the Heart & Vascular Institute call 800-216-5556.