Heart Attack Treatments

Our Sentara heart specialists are highly skilled in accurately and rapidly identifying STEMI and NSTEMI heart attacks. A STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) occurs when the blood vessel to your heart is completely blocked, depriving your heart of oxygen. NSTEMI (non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction) heart attacks are caused by a partially blocked artery.

If you have a complete blockage - the most serious type of heart attack - our team administers emergency treatment right away. Our heart specialists open the blocked artery in less than 60 minutes, surpassing the national standard of 90 minutes. Their quick response can lessen damage to your heart and give you a greater quality of life.

Learn more about how we help you and your loved ones if you have a heart attack:

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Medical Management

Your doctor may recommend medication to help your heart. You might receive:

Thrombolytic Medication - This type of medication, known as a "clot buster," helps improve blood flow and prevent tissue or organ damage after you experience a STEMI heart attack.

Blood-thinning Medication - Blood thinners can stop blood clots from forming. Your doctor may recommend one if you have an NSTEMI heart attack. You might take:

Antiplatelet agents: These medications stop your blood cells, called platelets, from sticking together and developing a clot. Aspirin is the most common antiplatelet medicine.
Anticoagulants: These drugs interrupt and delay your body's clotting process. Warfarin (Coumadin®) is the most common anticoagulant.

Surgery

After diagnosing the cause of your heart attack, you doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure or an open-heart surgery, including:

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and Balloon angioplasty

You might have a PCI, a minimally invasive procedure, if you have either a partially (NSTEMI) or fully blocked (STEMI) artery heart attack. During a PCI procedure, your surgeon opens blocked blood vessels to your heart.

Balloon angioplasty is a type of PCI. Doctors insert a catheter with a balloon at the end through a blood vessel in your groin. Once the catheter reaches your affected artery, doctors expand the balloon to push the plaque away and improve your blood flow.

In many cases, doctors also place a stent during a balloon angioplasty. A stent is a small, metal mesh tube that keeps your arteries open and prevents them from developing new blockages.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Your doctor might recommend this open-heart surgery, pronounced "cabbage," if you have an NSTEMI heart attack. During bypass surgery, your surgeon bypasses one or more of your blocked arteries. He or she reroutes blood flow through a healthy blood vessel taken from your arm, chest or leg.

Cardiac Rehab

After having a heart attack, our comprehensive cardiac rehab specialists and Ornish Lifestyle Medicine supports you in safely regaining your strength and overall health. We create an individualized program based on your specific needs and goals.

A cardiologist oversees your cardiac rehab team, which includes:

Cardiac nurses
Exercise physiologists
Registered dietitians

The program includes:

Nutritional guidance
Physical activities and strength training
Stress management

Clinical Trials

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