Tuesday, November 23, 2010\

AUGUSTA -- In this "Smart Heart" report, we're looking at different types of heart attacks.

We're teaming up with University Hospital to look at a STEMI heart attack amd a non-STEMI infarction.

Studies show patients with a STEMI heart attack see a delay of about 2 and a half hours from the time the person has the attack to the time they go to the hospital.

Researchs shows waiting couple of hours does not increase your risk of dying. Doctors say patients should call 911 if the symptoms of a heart attack do not go away within 5 minutes.

Most of us can't tell the difference between a STEMI and non-STEMI heart attack.

"We have a great system in place in this region before you even hit the hospital door. If you call 911, a lot of the trucks are actually equipped with EKGs. They can put an ekg on the patient and send it directly to me. I can tell if that patient is having a heart attack before they even hit my door," said Doctor Charlotte Newman, an emergency physician at University Hospital.

Doctors say "time is muscle." So the sooner they know what the problem is, the sooner they can solve it and save your heart.