Heart attack

Heart attack

Also known as: Myocardial infarction

A heart attack—also called myocardial infarction or MI—occurs when an area of heart muscle is completely deprived of blood, and the heart muscle cells die.

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Services offered by Providence

Dobutamine stress echo

This echocardiogram is similar to a stress echocardiogram but does not require you to walk on the treadmill. Dobutamine, a medication that raises your More »

Event monitor

For this test, you are fitted with three electrodes and a monitoring device. While wearing the device, you must activate the monitor by pushing a butt More »

Exercise nuclear scan

This test has three parts. First, you will receive an injection of a radioactive tracer through an IV placed in your arm. A special nuclear camera wil More »

Healthy Heart and Vascular Lectures

Join us as our physician experts explore a range of topics that will help you learn the facts about preventing, detecting and effectively treating man More »

Pharmacologic nuclear scan

This is a test in which you receive an IV infusion of a medication to exercise your heart. Your heart rate, blood pressure and ECG are monitored durin More »

Providence Heart-Healthy Living Guide

The Northwest Guide to Heart-Healthy Living is available at multiple supermarkets and Providence locations in Oregon and southwest Washington. In More »

Stress echo

An echocardiogram is performed immediately before and after you walk on a treadmill. During the test, your heart rate and blood pressure will be monit More »

Tobacco counseling

Ready to quit smoking?  We can help.  More »

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From the experts

Ask an Expert: Robotic-assisted cardiac surgery

What procedures do you use robotic surgery for?

Ask an Expert: Women's heart attack symptoms and what to do

Q: A friend forwarded an email to me about what to do if you're alone and you think you're having a heart attack. It says that coughing hard will squeeze the heart and keep the blood flowing until you can get help. It also says that women may experience strange symptoms, like a pain in the jaw, instead of chest pain. Is any of this true? Answer provided by Suzanne M. Hall, M.D., FACC, medical director of Providence Women and Heart Disease Program at Providence Heart and Vascular Institute, and cardiologist with Columbia Cardiology Associates.

Five things to know about heart disease

The risk factors for cardiovascular disease and heart attack can be both obvious and hidden.– By James Beckerman, M.D., cardiologist

Listen to your heart

When your heart tells you that something’s wrong, listen. 
By Steven Reinhart, M.D., cardiologist, medical director of quality for Providence Heart and Vascular Institute, and medical director of the Coronary Care Unit at Providence Portland Medical Center 

Preventing Cardiac Risk: Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your chance of heart attack or stroke.

Sex after heart attack – when is it safe?

Patients may be reluctant to raise the subject, a candid conversation can ease their worries. – By James Beckerman, M.D., cardiologist

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