Do you know the signs of a heart attack?

Yesterday a dear blogging friend of mine instant messaged me...I didn't get the message right away but when I did I contacted her right away.....we addressed each other with the usual social niceties when I said, how are you doing...her response was.....I don't know....not sure.......of course my immediate response was ....what's up?....she responded by telling me she hadn't been feeling well.....she went on to describe symptoms she was having....nausea, vomiting,cold sweat, pain between the scapulae(shoulder blades)elevated blood pressure...and slightly low heart rate.....hmmmmm...of course this could be a variety of things...however my dear friend does have a cardiac background. How are you feeling right now....tired, dizzy and weak was her response.....her family had wanted her to go to the ER but she didn't want to. I suggested strongly she listen to them and go. I told her she could be having a cardiac event and that it isn't something to sit around and wait to see if something else happens. I told her that if she had called 911 and gave them her symptoms I was sure they would tell her to go to the ER. In the ER they can hook you up to a cardiac monitor take some blood work and quickly rule out if you are having a cardiac event. To many people wait far to long before seeking medical attention for cardiac symptoms....they don't believe anything is wrong...it will pass. In the medical field we have a saying..."Time is muscle" if you are having a cardiac event the sooner you present to the ER the more cardiac muscle can be saved.....that being if you are having a cardiac event there are certain drugs that can be given but they need to be given within a certain time frame....so "Time is muscle"

So, after my friends incident last evening, I thought....how many people don't even know the signs or symptoms of a heart attack. So I thought I would do my public service and post information which I got from the Canadian Heart and Stroke foundations. Below are the signs of symptoms of a heart attack and what to do.....please take the time to read....

"Thousands of Canadians die from heart attacks every year because they don’t get medical treatment quickly enough. Learn to recognize the signals of a heart attack, so you can react quickly – to save a life."

Pain
-sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest
-pain that may be in the chest, neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back
-pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure
in women, pain may be more vague
-chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and goes away with rest
-shortness of breath
-difficulty breathing

Nausea
-indigestion
-vomiting
-Sweating
-cool, clammy skin

Fear
-anxiety
-denial

If you are experiencing any of these signals, you should:

-CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately, or have someone call for you. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times.
-Stop all activity and sit or lie down, in whatever position is most comfortable.
-If you take nitroglycerin, take your normal dosage.
-If you are experiencing chest pain, chew and swallow one adult 325 mg ASA tablet (acetylsalicylic acid, commonly referred to as Aspirin®) or two 80 mg tablets. Pain medicines such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®) do not work the same way as ASA (i.e. Aspirin®) and therefore will not help in the emergency situation described above.
-Rest comfortably and wait for emergency medical services (EMS) (e.g., ambulance) to arrive.

QUICK ACTION SAVES LIVES

So my friends please don't ignore the symptoms.....as health care professional we would recommend you come to the hospital and be able to tell you your heart is OK rather than the alternative .....you not make it to the hospital.

I wish you all good health....

If you would like more information you can check out the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation or American Heart Association