A heart attack requires immediate emergency medical care. If you
think you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. At
the emergency room, you will be hooked up to a cardiac (heart)
monitor, so medical personnel can monitor your heart’s
electrical activity. You will also undergo several different
tests that will help the doctors to determine the appropriate
treatments for you. The following tests will likely be performed
in the hospital: Blood tests —Certain substances are found in
the blood within hours or days after a heart attack. Blood tests
will be repeated every 6-8 hours to track certain enzymes (eg,
troponins, creatine kinase). Progressive elevation indicates
heart muscle damage. Urine tests —A sample of urine will reveal
certain substances within hours or days after a heart attack.
Electrocardiogram (EKG) —This test records the heart's activity
by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle.
Certain abnormalities in the EKG occur when there is significant
blockage of the coronary a