Page 28 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria May 2014

heart health
H
ow many times have you felt like something wasnt right,
but you didnt want to bother anyone by seeking medi-
cal attention? Have you ever felt pain and thought, Oh,
its probably nothing? A heart attack can be a life-and-death
emergency, and even if you feel like it may be nothing, not taking
action can result in death or disability.
Every moment that a person delays in getting medical treat-
ment increases likelihood of damage, death to heart muscle
or severe brain damage, and disability from a stroke. That's
because there is a blockage that hinders blood flow to a por-
tion of the heart or brain, so it's being deprived of the oxygen it
needs. Remember that delay can be deadly.
A person who is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or
a stroke should seek medical attention within five minutes, even
if unsure that it's a heart attack or a stroke. The best way to get
help is by calling 9-1-1 promptly.
Why call 9-1-1 instead of driving yourself or having a loved
one drive you?
In nearly all cases, it's the fastest way for heart attack and
stroke victims to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical
services (EMS) providers can begin diagnosis and treatment
when they arrive on the scene, which can be up to an hour
sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car.
EMS personnel have the training and equipment that are often
effective in reversing cardiac arrest. Imagine if you were suf-
fering a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest while driving
yourself or while a loved one was driving you.
Many ambulances are equipped with 12-lead electrocardio-
grams (ECGs), which help diagnose a heart attack and dif-
ferentiate between a STEMI, the most deadly type of heart
attack which is caused by the sudden, total blockage of a
coronary artery, and a non-STEMI event. In Il l i noi s, EMS
organi zati ons and the Ameri can Heart Associ ati on have
In a Heart or Stroke
Emergency, Dial 911 Dont Drive
By the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate
worked actively to increase the number of 12-lead ECGs,
whi ch i mproves outcomes for pati ents i n Central Il l i noi s.
Equipped with information from an ECG, EMS know whether
the patient should be taken to a hospital that is able to admin-
ister PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), also referred to
as heart catheterization or angioplasty, or if they should go to
the non-PCI hospital that is closer.
Coordinated
and efficient
healthcare
saves everyone
money.
Because Your Healthcare Story
Shouldnt Be Told in Pieces.
cihie.org
May 2014 Peoria Healthy Cells Magazine Page 29
heart health
Patients experiencing chest pain who arrive by ambulance
rather than by car usually receive faster treatment at the hospi-
tal. There are protocols in place that help heart attack patients
to bypass the ER and go straight to the catheterization lab for
treatment. In the case of a stroke, the hospital may be able to
provide tPA, a clot-busting drug that can only be given within a
short window of time from the onset of symptoms.
Unfortunately, approximately 50 percent of patients who have
experienced STEMI arrive at their local emergency department
(ED) by driving themselves or having someone else take them by
car. STEMI patients who walk in to the ED rather than arriving by
ambulance hinder their own patient registration, quick triage to
receive an ECG, and ECG privacy. Furthermore, by not activating
9-1-1, heart attack and stroke patients don't give the hospital
staff advance warning of their arrival, which may lead to delays in
treatment.
Know the Signs of a Heart Attack and a Stroke
Call 911 immediately if you may be suffering the symptoms of
a heart attack:
Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in
the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or
that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable
pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Symptoms
can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back,
neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea,
or lightheadedness.
When it comes to detecting the symptoms of a stroke, remem-
ber the acronym FAST:
F Face drooping
A Arm numbness
S Speech difficulty
T Time to call 911 if you are experiencing any or all of those
symptoms.
For more i nformati on on heart attack and stroke, vi si t
www.heart.org or www.strokeassociation.org.
Photo credit: Monkey Business Images/Thinkstock
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