Jennifer Amundson, 612-672-4165

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 12, 2008) – The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview has opened a Chest Pain Center to help Twin Cities metro-area residents who believe they may be having heart attacks analyze their symptoms and seek appropriate care.

The center’s phone line, (800) U.S.-HEART (800-874-3278), is continually staffed by experienced cardiology nurses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Patients with acute, severe chest pain should call 911 at once. Patients with less-obvious symptoms are encouraged to call the toll-free line for immediate guidance.

Depending on pain descriptions, cardiology nurses will offer one of three recommendations to callers: hang up the phone and call 911, go to an emergency room immediately, or schedule an appointment with a physician the next day.

“A lot of patients have symptoms and do not realize they are having heart attacks,” said Gladwin Das, M.D., a