Chest Pain

When the heart muscle is starved for oxygen a range of chest pain (angina pectoris) sensations can occur. These can include burning, numbness, or pressure to severe pain occuring in the chest, arms, jaw, throat or upper back. Chest pain (angina pectoris) is the most common sign of a heart attack.

Diagnosis

Speed is critical when chest pain strikes. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce the onset of life-threatening cardiac events and heart attacks. The 24-hour chest pain centers in the emergency departments at Long Beach Memorial and Saddleback Memorial are designated cardiac receiving centers in Los Angeles County and Orange County. MemorialCare's highly trained cardiac nurses treat patients with chest pain as soon as they arrive.

Treatments

Minimally Invasive Interventions
If a heart attack is diagnosed, heart attack patients are taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory—normally within 90 minutes—for minimally invasive interventional treatments to re-establish blood flow in blocked cardiac vessels. Rapid response and innovative treatments minimize cardiac damage, ensuring the best possible outcome.

Minimally Invasive Interventions

Noninvasive Therapy
External cardiac counterpulsation is a noninvasive technique ideal for those who are considered inoperable or who are at high risk for complications from invasive treatments.

External Cardiac Counterpulsation