WHY HEART DISEASE

WHY HEART DISEASE?

My father had 5 heart attacks, one double by-pass, and one triple by-pass surgery before dying in front of me when I was 19 years old. My mother had only one heart attack. However, she didn't get to the hospital until 12 hours later. She was then placed on the heart transplant list. Miraculously, while under the care of John Hopkins in Baltimore, she was taken off the list. They put her on a new medication called Coreg and she was then able to have angioplasty

While alone one early morning at the young age of 31, I felt as if I was having a heart attack. I didn't know what else it could be. I felt a sharp sword grinding in the left side of my chest. I couldn't take a deep breath or the pain would intensify. The pain lasted about 10 minutes. After the pain subsided, I made a call to a nurse who advised me to make a doctor's appointment instead of going to the emergency room. About a week later (before my doctor's appointment) it happened again. This time it was more like a dagger instead of a sword. Then, I went to the emergency room and they did a chest x-ray. The x-ray looked normal. Unfortunately, they didn't do any blood work and I didn't know enough to ask them to. I waited until I went to the cardiologist. By then it was too late to detect any muscle tissue break down in the blood. I had a series of other tests done. He concluded that I had a pulmonary embolism. I was fortunate to have survived. I was on the birth control pill, which isn't a good thing for women with heart disease in the family. Also, I had just taken a long flight. I am so tall that the cramped economy seating decreased my circulation and a blood clot was formed. The clot didn't make it's way into my heart. Instead, the clot made it's way into my lung. That same clot could have caused a stroke or a heart attack. For my parents and because I am still at risk for a heart attack, I have chosen heart disease as my platform. The same precautions can be taken for both heart disease and pulmonary embolisms.

I was blessed because even though I didn't do what I should have, I am able to tell my story. I should have learned from my mother and not waited to go to the emergency room. I should have asked the doctor in the emergency room to do blood work. I shouldn't have been on the pill. I should have gotten up to stretch every few minutes while on the plane. I should have taken care of myself better.

I now know not to take each day for granted. I must take action toward a healthy life. No one else can do it for me. I take a baby aspirin once a day, exercise, and avoid saturated fat. I don't take birth control pills and I am trying to incorporate one glass of red wine before bed every night.

SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK:

Little did I know that heart discomfort is rarely a sharp, stabbing pain.

The American Heart Association and other medical experts say the body likely will send one or more of these warning signals of a heart attack:

Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders.
Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin.
Paleness or pallor.
Increased or irregular heart rate.
Feeling of impending doom.

Not all of these signs occur in every attack. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast. IF YOU NOTICE ONE OR MORE OF THESE SIGNS IN YOURSELF OR OTHERS, DON'T WAIT. CALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (9-1-1) RIGHT AWAY! In the event of cardiopulmonary arrest (no breathing or pulse), call 9-1-1 and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. Irreversible injury to the heart muscle usually occurs if medical help is not received promptly. Unfortunately, it is common for people to dismiss heart attack symptoms.

A heart attack can even present the emergency room with a normal EKG. In this situation, the heart attack is diagnosed by identifying positive cardiac enzymes in the blood. If classic heart attack symptoms manifest, the most important initial step the victim can take is to chew on 1 whole aspirin tablet. The anti-platelet actions of aspirin can sometimes forestall a full-blown heart attack.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE:

Many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack. These victims can help themselves by taking an aspirin and coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.

A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.