Gregory Miller, a resident of Hillsborough, had his first heart attack in 1995 while on an East Coast business trip.

At the age of 41, he had to enter a Baltimore hospital for treatment and stay several days to recover.

So seven years later when he awoke in the middle of the night with chest pains, Miller knew what to do. He came immediately to Mills-Peninsula, his longtime hospital and the place where his father, Burt, also had heart surgery.

Miller’s cardiologist, Stephen Pope, M.D., was on call and quickly stepped into action. Even though Miller had to undergo angioplasty, in which his blocked coronary arteries were opened back up, he was able to go home within 48 hours.

“It was definitely easier the second time around,” he says.

Miller’s speedy recovery is typical of the current generation of Mills-Peninsula cardiac patients that benefits from the hospital’s advanced, all-digital cardiac catheterization laboratory.

The “cath lab” has state-of-the-art technology that detects signs of heart disease earlier and makes less invasive treatment more routine.

“Over the last 30 years, there has been an immense evolution in the care of heart attacks,” says Dr. Pope.

“In the past, heart attack care meant possible open-heart surgery plus staying in the hospital for days to weeks, taking medications to rest the heart and lower blood pressure and hoping for recovery.

“Since the advent of angioplasty and earlier detection of heart disease, it’s easier to open blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the heart before significant damage occurs.”

Dr. Pope used a catheter to insert a balloon to clear Gregory’s blockages, followed by a stent, which holds artery walls open to allow steady blood flow.

Today’s drug-eluting stents, coated with a thin layer of medication, help prevent artery blockage, reduce recovery time and improve the odds for long-term success.

Success also depends on the patient knowing the signs of a heart attack and getting to the hospital immediately, the doctor said.

“That’s why Gregory recovered so quickly. At the onset of pain, he got to the hospital, which made it easier for me to rush him into the cath lab and get his coronary artery open.”

Dr. Pope says angioplasties are most successful if the time between a patient entering the hospital and balloon dilation via catheter is within 90 minutes.

“If we can do that, the need to keep the person here for lengthy monitoring is greatly reduced. Using a small catheter to open up the artery without damaging the heart muscle allows us to treat heart-attack patients nearly like outpatients with elective surgery.”

Since angioplasty, Miller is watching his diet and exercising, taking medication and easing back on his workload. He has become good friends with Dr. Pope, who is now cardiologist to Miller’s 86-year-old father, Burt.

“I had a bypass for three arteries but, knock on wood, I’ve been good ever since,” says Burt.

What are the warning signs?
Men have textbook symptoms of chest tightness and discomfort, although discomfort can also occur in the arms, back and neck," says Dr. Pope. "Women might have other symptoms like shortness of breath, sudden change in heart rate, dizziness, cold sweats and nausea, even fatigue."

If you think you or someone you're with is having a heart attack -- don't drive -- call 911.

"The earlier you act on symptoms, the more successful the treatment, the more likely you'll fare better," says the doctor.