Are You Prepared for a Heart Attack?

Ask Glen!

Q.Glen, How Do You Prepared for a Heart Attack?

A. When it comes to a heart attack -- the number one cause of death among Americans -- time is of the essence. Every extra second it takes before you get medical attention brings you closer to buying the farm. So it's vital to know the warning signs of a heart attack, as well as what to do if it happens to you or someone in your vicinity

Known medically as "myocardial infarction," a heart attack is sometimes caused when plaque clogs one of the arteries that supply the heart with blood. This is called coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerosis.

"Plaque" is made up of deposits of cholesterol, fatty materials, calcium and other substances that accumulate over time.

Sometimes the heart attack is caused when plaque becomes fragile and ruptures, which can in turn cause a blood clot to form. Either way, if the flow of blood to the heart is diminished enough, the lack of oxygen will damage the heart muscle. If severe enough, it will kill the heart muscle -- and you, too.

Heart attacks can occur with little or no obvious symptoms, but often there are noticeable signs, such as:

A sense of uncomfortable chest pressure or fullness that lasts more than a few minutes.

Strong, squeezing pain in the chest that spreads to the shoulders, neck, arms or jaw.

Fainting, lightheadedness, nausea, sweating and shortness of breath.

If you experience any of these signs, don't write it off to indigestion. If there's a phone handy, the first thing you should do is call 911 and ask for help. Be sure to stay on the line until the dispatcher has all the information he or she needs to get you help. If for some reason a phone is not handy, you need to get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Have someone else drive you. Don't try to drive yourself unless there’s absolutely no other alternative.

If the person experiencing symptoms is someone other than yourself, take the following steps:

Call 911.

Make the person comfortable by loosening tight clothing.

Help him or her into whatever position they find least painful.

Give him or her an aspirin if it’s available. Aspirin thins the blood and reduces inflammation.

If the victim goes into cardiac arrest (the heart stops), you should administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR isn’t intended to restart the heart. Rather, it artificially keeps blood flow and respiration going until technical medical techniques to get the heart going such as defibrillation and advanced life support can be brought to bear. It’s a good idea to learn CPR by taking a course, but let’s go over the procedure so you have some idea of what to expect. If you call 911 on someone else’s behalf and you don’t already know CPR, the dispatcher may give you instructions over the phone.

You first need to assess the situation to make sure it’s safe to approach the victim. For instance, if the person was exposed to a dangerous jolt of electricity from a downed power line, you must not touch him or her until you’re sure they are no longer in contact with the current.

If you can approach the person, you need to ascertain if they are breathing. Once you’ve determined the person isn’t breathing, or if you aren’t sure, you should commence CPR.

First tilt the person’s head back, pinch their nose closed, place your mouth over theirs and blow air until you see their chest rise. Give two quick breaths in this manner. If the victim still isn’t breathing, start chest compressions. Using both hands, place them between the nipples and push down firmly to a depth of between 1 & ½ and 2 inches. Do this 30 times, faster than one push a second. Alternate between 30 compressions and two breaths until paramedics arrive.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program.Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Any questions? Ask Glen