Listen to Your Heart

 By Carissa Stella

The heart is an amazing muscle in that it provides nourishing blood and oxygen to the entire body and if something is wrong, it can almost seem to talk to you, provided you know what to listen for. A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency during which quick action can save a person’s life or at the very least minimize damage done to the heart muscle.

Signs of a heart attack

When a person suffers a heart attack it is due to a blood clot in one of the blood vessels leading to or from the heart and is typically announced by pain somewhere in the body.

While each person is different, the common signs include:

Chest pain: Located in the center of the chest and may last a few minutes and go away, often returning. It may feel as though the heart is being squeezed and is sometimes accompanied by the feeling of fullness in the chest or severe pain.

Upper body pain: During a heart attack the pain may radiate down one or both arms and often includes discomfort in the neck and jaw.

Trouble breathing: When a person is having a heart attack they often experience a shortness of breath. However, this feeling may occur before they feel any pain in the chest.

Additional Symptoms: In addition to these common signs, the person may experience nausea or the feeling of being light headed and breaking out in a cold sweat.

While a heart attack among women is just as likely, the warning signs are often ignored longer, not recognized for the danger they represent, making it more likely for a woman to delay seeking treatment. Since men are more prone to a heart attack many women do not recognize the typical symptoms, refusing to believe they are having one, causing the delay in treatment.

Signs of a heart attack in women

The symptoms a heart attack in women are similar to those in men including:

• Pain in the center of the chest.

• Pain also in the arms, jaw, neck or stomach.

• Shortness of breath or a feeling of being light headed.

When any of the warning signs of a heart attack present, it is imperative to seek emergency medical care. If a person in your care shows signs of a heart attack it is important to take the appropriate action.

What can I do?

1. Call 9-1-1 for emergency care. Do not try to take the person to the hospital in a private vehicle. Emergency Medical Technicians have the experience and equipment to administer proper care while travelling to the emergency room.

2. Above all, remain calm. Have them sit or lie down and talk calmly to them to help reduce their anxiety.

3. Ask if they take medication for heart problems. They may have a heart history and take medications such as nitroglycerine. If so, try to obtain their medication and follow the label directions. If you can determine they are not allergic to aspirin, have them chew one.

4. If the person in your care stops breathing, administer CPR, if you know how, until emergency responders arrive.

Better safe than sorry
A heart attack is a serious medical emergency and there are a few other medical issues that often present with similar symptoms that may not be life-threatening. The person should be treated as though they are having a heart attack. It is always better to be safe than ignore the symptoms and find out later you were wrong. Remember to keep your medical appointments and see your doctors regularly.  Be proactive with your loved one’s and your own health care!

 

 Sources: Wedmd.com, MayoClinic.com

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   January 17, 2012 at 10:46 am

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