Heart Attacks: What You Should Know
Are over the age of 45? Does your family have history of heart disease, stroke or vascular disease? Are you overweight, have high cholesterol, smoke or suffer from hypertension? If so, you could be at risk for a heart attack.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains American’s No. 1 killer, still claiming more lives than any other cause of death, according to the American Heart Association. Heart attacks are one form of CVD.
The coronary arteries carry blood to the heart. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked due to a clot that occurs in an artery that is thickened and hardened due to a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances.
Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, throat, jaw, arm or upper back pain, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, sweating or nausea.
“Symptoms can be brought on by exertion, do not change with position and are usually a squeezing or heavy sensation and usually do not change with breathing,” says Samuel Ruby, M.D., chief of the Section of Cardiology at Taylor Hospital.
Both men and women are at risk for having a heart attack; however, women commonly experience atypical symptoms. Women may be sweaty, or nauseated, and experience pain or discomfort in shoulders or arms without chest pain.
According to William Beckwith, M.D., chief of the Section of Cardiology at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, “It’s much easier to overlook symptoms of a heart attack in women, especially young women.”
“To lower the risk of having a heart attack, a person should control their risk factors. Reduce calories, limit saturated fats and avoid simple sugars such as snack food and candy,” says Domenic Pisano, D.O., chief of the Division of Cardiology at Springfield Hospital.
“Prevention is the best answer to the problem of a heart attack,” says David Mishalove, M.D., chief of the Division of Cardiology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. “This can be enhanced by a healthful lifestyle, which includes weight control, blood pressure control, exercise, and abstaining from smoking.”
“If you think you are having a heart attack, the first thing to do is call 9-1-1,” says Beckwith.
Patients who come to a Crozer-Keystone emergency department because of a suspected heart attack or chest pain benefit from a series of specialized protocols designed to accelerate diagnosis and treatment. Emergency interventional procedures for heart attack patients, such as angioplasty, are performed at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Patients can be transported from the DCMH, Taylor or Springfield emergency departments to the Crozer Emergency Department for these procedures through the health system’s special Critical Care Transport system.
In addition to angioplasty, Crozer offers open heart surgery as well as stent placement and atherectomy. Crozer-Keystone physicians offer the latest advances in these interventional procedures, including biventricular resynchronization and “coated” stents. Following an interventional procedure, patients can take advantage of cardiac rehabilitation, transition and wellness programs at Crozer-Keystone hospitals.
To find a Crozer-Keystone physician who is right for you and to make an appointment, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).