WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Valentine's
Day is a great reminder to prioritize heart health and recognize
the signs of an emergency, according to the American College of
Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
One of the most common reasons people visit the emergency
department, chest pain can take a variety of forms and is not
always associated with a heart issue. Heart disease is the most
common cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.
"Heart attacks can be difficult to recognize but it's important
not to ignore the warning signs," said William Jaquis, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP.
"Often, time is the most valuable resource a doctor can have when
treating a heart issue. Symptoms like chest pain should always be
taken seriously, if you think you are having an emergency it's
important to know the warning signs and act quickly."
People having a heart attack may experience some or all of these
symptoms:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing sensation or pain
in the center of the chest, lasting more than a few minutes, or it
goes away and comes back.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms or
back.
- Chest discomfort accompanied by lightheadedness, fainting,
sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Some less common warning signs of heart attack that should be
taken seriously — especially if they accompany any of the above
symptoms — include:
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
- Abnormal chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain. Symptoms may
feel like indigestion or heartburn.
- Nausea or dizziness.
- Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue.
- Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness.
If you think somebody is having a heart attack, call 911. "One
of the primary reasons to call an ambulance rather than drive
somebody yourself is that emergency medical service (EMS)
professionals are able to provide medical attention on the way to
the emergency department," said Dr. Jaquis.
If a person loses consciousness, make sure they are on their
back, loosen clothing at the neck, chest and waist then check for
breath and pulse. If absent and somebody nearby is trained to do
so, begin CPR.
"A person experiencing a heart attack does not need CPR unless
they lose consciousness and go into cardiac arrest," said Dr.
Jaquis. "If that happens, CPR can keep blood flowing while waiting
for an ambulance or defibrillator."
Anyone can learn CPR through the ACEP Until Help Arrives
program. It's important to know when to go to the emergency
department. Visit www.emergencyphysicians.org for more health
and safety tips, and information for patients, policymakers
or media about emergency care.
The American College of Emergency Physicians
(ACEP) is the national medical society representing
emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public
education and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of
its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150
million Americans they treat on an annual basis. For more
information,
visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.org.
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SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)