Maine Cardiovascular Health

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Heart Attack

Coronary heart disease (CHD), which can often result in a heart attack, is our nation’s number one killer. Nearly 1.2 million Americans will suffer from a heart attack this year, and more than half of those will die. Typically, around 340,000 of those deaths occur in an emergency room, or before reaching the hospital. That’s two-thirds of all deaths from CHD – more than 930 Americans each day. Most of these deaths are from sudden cardiac arrest.

The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a heart attack that results in ventricular fibrillation, or a quivering of the heart’s lower chambers. During a heart attack, the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or stopped, and heart muscle is damaged and soon begins to die. The more time that passes without treatment, the greater the damage. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense – your typical “Hollywood heart attack.” But most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, and people having them often don’t realize what’s happening and delay calling for help until it’s too late.

You can prevent a heart attack by knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and working with your health care provider to control them. Changing your lifestyle to include healthier behaviors can help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and reduce your risk of heart disease. Choose foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. If you use tobacco products, there are many resources, including the Maine Tobacco HelpLine, to help you quit.

A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Learn the signs and symptoms, and don’t hesitate! Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you or someone you are with experiences any of the warning signs, and they last for more than five minutes.

The American Heart Association says the warning signs of a heart attack are:

• Chest discomfort: uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: this may be felt in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath: may often occur with or before chest discomfort
• Cold sweats
• Nausea
• Light-headedness

You may have one or several of these signs. Seek help immediately.

 

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