Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Fall 2021

12 VITALITY Fall 2021 You likely know that your chances of surviving a heart attack are better when you get to a hospital quickly. Trouble is, you might not know if you’re having a heart attack unless you learn the warning signs and symptoms. Read on to do that—and to discover exactly why you should never ignore them. During a heart attack, the blood supply to your heart is reduced. The longer your heart goes without enough blood, the greater the damage to your heart’s muscle, which can make it difficult to recover from the attack. But if you have a heart attack and get emergency help quickly, doctors can often diagnose and treat you in time to help prevent or limit heart damage. That’s why it’s important to call 911 immediately if you or a loved one is having any of the possible signs or symptoms of a heart attack—see below. Learn and live Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center or left side of the chest. The discomfort lasts for more than a few minutes or comes and goes. Know heart attack symptoms and act on them Upper body discomfort. This can include pain in one or both arms; the back; the shoulders; or the neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath. It may occur with or without chest pain. Other possible signs. These can include breaking out in a cold sweat or having an upset stomach. Remember, any of these heart attack warning signs and symptoms can come on gradually and feel only mildly uncomfortable at first. But they should never be ignored. Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention YOUR HEART IS IN GOOD HANDSAT CMH. Our award-winning cardiovascular services include an accredited Level II STEMI program with a 24/7 heart team ready for cardiac emergencies. STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) is a heart attack in which a blocked coronary artery prevents blood from getting to the heart muscle. Call CMH Heart Institute Clinic at 417-328-6040 for more information. HEART CARE