Years ago, my father-in-law felt unwell; he was experiencing pain and symptoms he did not understand. He called a cab and went immediately to his doctor's office and saved his life. He was having a heart attack. All he knew was that he was uncomfortable and frightened.
Today, we understand more about prevention, about risk factors and warning signs to guide us as we attempt to avoid and handle a heart-threatening moment. Let us start with the warning signs as outlined by the American Heart Association. Some heart attacks are sudden, intense and arrive without warning. Frequently there are signs that a heart attack is imminent.
"Do you have chest pain?" a cardiologist will ask immediately. A heart attack frequently involves discomfort, pain in the middle of the chest that comes and goes. It is a feeling of pressure, fullness, heaviness or pain. Pain might also be felt in one or both arms, back, jaw, chin or stomach, the upper body.
Women's symptoms are often different from those of men ---- we may not feel the crushing chest pain, but instead experience unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, cold sweat, dizziness, indigestion/nausea or anxiety.
Shortness of breath occurs with or without chest discomfort. After my back surgery, my husband took over the daily job of making our bed. Then the job became his. In a few years, though, I noticed that he was breathless each time he finished.
We visited the doctor, then the cardiologist. Failed stress tests and echocardiograms meant a trip to the hospital, where it was determined that three of his arteries were severely occluded. The arteries were bypassed; the breathlessness disappeared, and a heart attack was avoided. Breathlessness is a significant warning sign.
When the symptoms persist, the Heart Association advises, call 911; if that is not possible, have some one drive you to the hospital immediately. Do not drive yourself there unless there is absolutely no alternative.
A suggestion from the Mayo Clinic is that when you make that emergency call, simply state, "Heart attack, I have taken aspirin!" and sit down ---- do not lie down ---- until help comes. (Aspirin will be discussed below).
We can address risk factors, hoping to prevent an attack. The University of Michigan's Health System advises that its information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical care. Our own physicians are the ones to diagnosis and provide care. But knowing the risk factors can perhaps help us to change our ways and seek medical care when suspecting trouble.
I would guess that none of these factors are news to any of us. They include: cigarette smoking, family history of heart attacks, diabetes, too much weight, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, too little "good" cholesterol, stress, a lifestyle that does not include much physical activity. Each factor is worthy of consultation with the doctor.
During a heart attack, some portion of our heart muscle stops functioning. That sounds terrifying. The good news is that chances of surviving and living a normal life are excellent. The trick is early and fast acknowledgment and treatment. Medication and stabilizing the ability of the heart muscle to pump blood throughout our bodies is critical.
Many of our doctors have prescribed a low-dose aspirin (81 mg) daily as a preventative measure. As we are all different, it is unwise to just go ahead and take aspirin; it is important to discuss it with the doctor. As an emergency measure during a heart attack, Mayo Clinic suggests swallowing two regular aspirins with a bit of water. Harvard Medical School Health suggests chewing the aspirin during an emergency. Ask your doctor. If prescribed, aspirin should be at your bedside. In an emergency, four baby aspirin will do. It has to get into the system fast to inhibit the damage the platelets are creating.
I keep an emergency bottle of aspirin in my night table. When I had a car, I also kept some in the car, and my supply of baby aspirin is with the rest of my daily meds. It's like the proverbial belt and suspenders: You can't be too careful. Speed is critical when facing a heart attack.
If your doctor recommends the low-dose aspirin, it is suggested to take it at night. Most heart attacks occur in the wee hours of the morning. Incidentally, aspirin has 24-hour lasting power and a long shelf life.
Strokes and heart attacks are different. I can't go into details about stroke in this column, but the symptoms are sudden and include numbness, confusion, dizziness, headache and more. The Heart Association states, "If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke." Call 911!
Most important ---- focus on the risk factors, listen to the warning signs and above all, consult your doctor!
Agnes Herman is a freelance columnist. Contact her at 760-744-6878; e-mail to aggherman@sbcglobal.net.
