The health care team is skilled in using special equipment and medicines to help in your care. These include:

• heart monitor
• intravenous line
• blood pressure cuff
• chest x-ray machine
• oxygen mask
• drugs

How Does the Heart Monitor Work?

The heart monitor is like a television screen that shows the rate and rhythm of your heart beat at all times. The three/five adhesive discs, called electrodes, when placed on your chest send messages by a cable to the monitor screen. These messages are electrical impulses from the heart muscle.

Alarms are set on the monitor so that any changes in the rate or rhythm of your heart will notify the nurse or doctor.

The alarm will also ring if you move around a lot or a disc falls off.

Why Do I Need An Intravenous Line?

This tube is put into your vein to give you special fluids and medication. The intravenous line does not take the place of eating or drinking.

Why Do You Take My Blood Pressure?

Your blood pressure, pulse and respirations are taken to help the health care team see how well your heart is working. These are done often to follow your progress and quickly find problems.

Why Do I Need Chest X-rays?

Chest x-rays give a clear picture of your heart and lungs. The health care team looks at these pictures to see the size of your heart. The pictures also show if there is extra fluid in your lungs. Chest x-rays may need to be taken several times.

Why Do I Need An Oxygen Mask?

The oxygen mask gives you extra oxygen to reduce the work your heart has to do. You may need to wear your oxygen mask for the first day or so. The amount of oxygen in your blood is checked by an oximetry machine. Part of the machine is put on your finger or earlobe, so your oxygen level can be known without taking blood. The oxygen level tells if the oxygen mask is giving you enough oxygen.

What Do Thrombolytic Drugs Do?

Most heart attacks are caused by blood clots. Drugs can be used to dissolve or break up these clots. This can improve the blood flow in the coronary arteries, bringing more blood to the heart muscle. These drugs do not change the time it takes for you to recover from your heart attack.
Some people do not need thrombolytic drugs. Your doctor will tell you if these drugs have been used in your care.

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