February is American Heart Month and the BARNABAS HEALTH HEART CENTERS remind families to take symptoms seriously and to summon medical assistance by calling 9-1-1 immediately if they think a family member is having a heart attack. Heart disease remains the nation's number one killer of both men and women.
“If you or a family member are exhibiting signs of a heart attack, call an ambulance instead of attempting to drive to the hospital,” says Gary J. Rogal MD, Chief of Cardiology for the Saint Barnabas Health Care System. “If his or her condition should worsen, there is nothing you can do to help while driving. Ambulance crews have training and equipment to care for heart attack patients while they are being transported to the hospital.”
All six of the SAINT BARNABAS HEART CENTERS, located across New Jersey, are accredited as Chest Pain Centers for Cycle II by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. As part of this designation, their ambulances are equipped with an Emergency Medical System that can transmit an electrocardiogram (EKG) before the patient reaches the hospital. Based on important information relayed from the field, necessary staff, testing and treatment are made available before the patient’s arrival. The Cycle II accreditation also ensures that emergency and cardiology physician continually refine and improve the way care is provided in the case of a cardiac emergency including heart attack.
Signs of a Heart Attack
The most common symptoms of a heart attack include:
· Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
· Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms, or back
· Chest discomfort associated with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath
· Profound fatigue, which may last several days before the heart attack
· The occurrence of any of these symptoms WITHOUT exertion
There are less common warning signs of heart attack that should also be taken seriously, especially if they accompany any of the above symptoms. The intensity of the symptoms is not significant and they may not result in actual pain, reports Dr. Rogal, as for example, shortness of breath is not considered painful. The important feature is that these symptoms are new, possibly subtle, and there is no reason for them (for example, abdominal discomfort without having a recent meal). These less common symptoms include:
· Stomach or abdominal pain
· Nausea or dizziness
· Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
· Unexplained anxiety, weakness, or fatigue
· Palpitations, cold sweat, or paleness
Not all these signs occur in every heart attack. Sometimes symptoms go away and return. In all cases a person can lower the chance of dying from a heart attack by recognizing symptoms and getting medical help immediately.
The SAINT BARNABAS HEART CENTERS are located at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville • Community Medical Center in Toms River • Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood • Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch •Newark Beth Israel Medical Center• Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
For more information about the SAINT BARNABAS HEART CENTERS please call 1-888-SBHS-123 or visit www.barnabashealth.org/heartcenters.
Date: January 26, 2010
Contact: Caren Malone
Public Relations Department
Saint Barnabas Health Care System
973-322-4017, cmalone@barnabashealth.org
