Is it a Heart Attack?

Is it a Heart Attack?

Triage nurses are trained to spot anyone with symptoms that may mimic those of a heart attack. It is never good to take a chance, and anyone that indicates possible heart attack symptoms should be given top priority.

Heart Attack Symptoms • Pain between shoulder blades, arm, chest, jaw, left arm or upper abdomen. These are common pain areas associated with a heart attack, but each person is different, and may experience a totally different area of pain.

• The pain associated with heart attacks often comes when the patient is at rest. This can be dangerous because the patient may be tired and ignore the symptoms.

• Pain may be like a clenched fist in the chest.

• The whole body may be affected, and the patient may be dizzy, and feel fatigued, clammy cold sweat or Sweating in general.

• Intestinal discomfort, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting.

• Neck discomfort or tightness • Arm pain, or tightness • Chest discomfort It is also common to suffer from anxiety, and a strange feeling, and abnormal heartbeat, and shortness of breath.

Heart Disease Statistics Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Each year, more than 750,000 people die from heart related disease. Cardiovascular disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease, claiming more than 350,000 lives annually. In the United States alone, a person has a heart attack every 34 seconds. About 730,000 people in the United States will have a heart attack this year, and of these 520,000 are first time heart attacks. Heart related costs are in the billions, and it continues to take many lives each year.

Related: Top 10 Nursing Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Women and Heart Disease One in thirty one American women will die of breast cancer each year, one in three dies of a heart attack. Heart disease takes a woman's life every

minute, a very sad statistic. Even worse is the fact that most women do not have any idea of their risks associated with heart disease. 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease. Many women have multiple risk factors for heart disease, and yet they have no idea. Currently, more women die from heart disease than men. The symptoms of heart disease in women are often different than the standard symptoms, therefore overlooked.

Journal of a Heart Attack Patient It was Thanksgiving Day and I was busy preparing a meal for a family gathering. I was in pretty good shape for age 55, not overweight, and ate pretty healthy, although admittedly, I had been unsuccessful in giving up smoking. So I am running around like a crazy woman, getting ready for family to arrive. Turkey made, ham cooked, all sides ready, even the pies are ready to serve. Everyone started arriving, and I started to feel as if I had a cold sweat, which I assumed was from working nonstop.

My husband asked if I was ok, and I assured him I was, just a little overworked. As I was putting dishes on the table I felt a slight pain on my back, I just assumed carrying that 30 pound turkey took its toll on me. We sat down to eat, and I started feeling a little nauseous, and excused myself from the table. On my way to the restroom my right arm, not left, had a sharp pain, and it finally clicked with me, could it be a heart attack. The next thing I knew, I woke up in ICU hooked up to machines. I was sedated for 3 full days before waking up, and according to the doctor, I came as close to death as possible without actually dying.

It was, to say the least, a wakeup call, I never smoked another cigarette. I also began speaking to groups regarding women and heart attacks. I almost ignored my symptoms to the point I would have ended my life.

Related: Preparing Your Next Resume – International Nurses Association Fortunately, this lady lived, but far too many don't make it.

Heart Health Not every heart attack can be avoided; however lifestyle changes can lower risk factors significantly. Some ways to lessen the risks of cardiac disease: • Eat less red meat. Meat is okay in moderation, but eating small portions of red meat is best. Eating more skinless chicken breasts, and fish is not only heart healthy; it is great for the waistline as well.

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Fish is a great source of omega which works to protect the heart; obviously this is a good choice.

Get plenty of exercise. Everyone has busy lives these days, it's easy to skip a regular exercise routine, and after a full day exhaustion is pretty natural. Exercise is important, even 10-15 minutes can get the heart pumping, and will relieve some of the day's stress as well.

Add vitamin E and fish oil to the diet of anyone at risk for heart disease. Check recommended dosage amounts; never take more than the recommended amount.

Keep up with lab numbers, make sure cholesterol numbers are in a healthy range, it's a good idea to have it check at least annually.

Keep an eye on the scale, and stay within s healthy weight range.

A few simple lifestyle changes can make a difference in lowering the risk factors of a heart attack. Childhood obesity is at an all time high, it is a topic that needs to be addressed. There are ways to approach and work with children to incorporate a healthy lifestyle, including diet changes and getting more exercise. Video games and cell phones are great, but they have shifted the average child from playing outdoors to sitting inside playing on a computer.

The day may come that heart disease is reversible and can be controlled, but until that time, it remains an epidemic. Share your knowledge, and always insist anyone with symptoms seeks medical attention immediately.

Brush up on CPR skills, and invite others to a class. It could result in saving a life one day.

Related: Skilled Nurse Sharon C. Rodriguez, DNP, MSN Ed, LHRM, RN, to Be Published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter