Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital issued the following announcement on Jan. 8.
Each year, approximately 790,000 Americans have a heart attack. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough blood flow. If a person experiences a heart attack, the longer they go without treatment, the more damage is done to the heart muscle.
The main cause of a heart attack is coronary artery disease (CAD). In other instances, it is caused by a sudden contraction of the coronary artery that stops the blood flow to the heart muscle.
According to the CDC, the five major symptoms of a heart attack are:
Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back
Feeling weak, light-headed or faint
Chest pain or discomfort
Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder
Shortness of breath
Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely to have these other symptoms.
Call 9-1-1
If you are concerned that you or someone else may be experiencing a heart attack, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. The quicker you get to the emergency room and get treatment, the better your chances are for survival and to reduce damage to the heart muscle. When you arrive at the hospital, your care team will run tests to determine if you have had a heart attack and whether you will need a cardiac intervention.
Concerned about heart health?
Speak with your primary care provider about your heart health, or contact Memorial Heart & Vascular Services if you are not sure where to start.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
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