Heart Attack
One minute you are up, the next minute you are down. That's not a mood swing or the lyrics from a sad song. That's how sudden your life can change after a heart attack. For many people, heart disease lingered over time without warning. The heart attack is the first visible symptom of clogged arteries that gradually became more and more narrow until the blood flow and oxygen was seriously compromised. A heart attack is frightening both to the victim and bystanders. The "Hollywood Heart Attack" is a dramatic, chest-clutching, moaning, falling on the floor event. That kind of heart attack is a lucky break because there is no missing what happened so medical help is immediately summoned and treatment follows rapidly. Many other first-time heart attack victims are not as fortunate.
The quiet heart attack comes over a person with arm pain, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty breathing, cold sweat and indigestion that just won't go away. It's easy to explain away each of these symptoms so the heart attack is ignored. People who work and live under high stress are at increased risk for heart attack and sudden cardiac failure. A highly stressed person can easily miss heart attack symptoms, thinking its just more stress. The American Heart Association warns that these symptoms need attention. Responding to a heart attack within the first three hours of onset insures the best chance of recovery without doing more damage to the heart. To emphasize the importance of rapid response, the American Heart Association launched a campaign called "Act In Time" to encourage recognition of symptoms and to call emergency medical help at first sign of symptoms. To illustrate the extent of this problem, a 2001 survey found that out of 95% of people who realized that they were having heart attack symptoms only 11% quickly called emergency medical services. Administering clot-busting drugs in that initial three hour window after symptoms appear can reduce the severity of the heart attack. Wait too long and this drug is not effective. Coronary heart disease is America's leading killer and strokes are not far behind as the third leading cause of death. Both conditions can lead to long term disability. Let's face it, no one knows what a heart attack is like until it happens. Don't try to evaluate the symptoms. Call 9-1-1 for help. Not only do the paramedics know how to respond to the early heart attack symptoms but they also carry lifesaving equipment on board the ambulance to sustain life until reaching the hospital. Arriving by ambulance is also the fastest way to get attention at the emergency room. Never drive yourself to the hospital with heart attack symptoms. Let's face it, no one knows what a heart attack is like until it happens. Don't try explain away the cause or evaluate the symptoms. Call 9-1-1 for help. Not only do the paramedics know how to respond to the early heart attack symptoms but they also carry lifesaving equipment on board the ambulance to sustain life until reaching the hospital. |