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Australian Prescriber Vol. 24 No. 3 2001
Management of acute coronary syndromes
There are several new treatments for heart attacks. We now know there are different types of heart attack, so different treatments may be needed.
Tests are required to work out the best treatment for each patient. They include a cardiograph (ECG) and blood tests. These help the doctors find out how badly the heart is damaged.
The amount of damage can be reduced by early treatment. This is why people with severe crushing chest pain should go straight to hospital. People are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated quickly. To avoid delays in getting patients to hospital many cities have specially equipped ambulances to give rapid treatment.
