Be aware of "Early Heart Attack Care." Did you know heart attacks have beginnings? These beginnings occur in over 50 percent of patients. If recognized in time these “beginnings” can be treated before the heart is damaged.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. In fact, every minute an American will die of a coronary event.
What is a Heart Attack?
Blood flow through one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. Fatty deposits narrow coronary arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart.
Understand the Three Types of Heart Attacks:
- The first type stops you in your tracks.
- Another type is a heart attack where damage takes place over a period of hours.
- Or, a heart attack may begin with mild symptoms and this is where Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) can provide the most benefit.
Not All Heart Attacks Look Like This
Learn the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack
- Chest discomfort. It may last for more than a few minutes or it may go away and come back. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
- Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.
- Other symptoms may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, dizziness or light-headedness, “feeling of impending doom,” weakness and fatigue
Respond: If you feel these symptoms yourself or witness them in others, call 911.
Time = Muscle
If blood flow is not restored to your heart muscle within 20 to 40 minutes, irreversible death of the muscle begins to occur. The more heart muscle that is saved, the better your chance of survival. Angioplasty opens the artery and restores blood flow. A “STEMI” Alert will be called when the chest pain team is needed for intervention within 90 minutes.
Make a Difference in Someone's Life
Make sure your family and friends know the signs of an early heart attack, and call 911. Time lost is brain and heart lost.
What If a Heart Attack Turns into Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Know how to respond with the 3 Cs: Check for responsiveness, Call 911, Compress the chest to circulate blood flow. Visit Sarver Heart Center's "Learn CPR" page to watch a video and learn more: http://heart.arizona.edu/cpr-video