While I often criticize medical folks for dropping the ball when dealing with chronic disease related to lifestyle issues, I like to think I’m also quick to give credit when credit is due. And our conventional health practitioners—doctors and nurses—deserve a big pat on the back because they’ve helped decrease you risk of dying from a heart attack.
That’s great news.
The death rate from coronary heart disease has dropped by 38 percent in the past ten years. Much of this improvement is linked to the fact that hospitals and emergency rooms have become much more efficient and effective at treating people for heart attacks and bringing them back from the edge of death.
But you need to keep one key factor on your side to boost your chances of being a survivor.
And that’s speed.
A report in The New York Times details how the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have spearheaded an effort to treat heart patients as soon as they reach the emergency room. This starts by assembling cardiology-intervention teams even before patients suffering a heart attack reach the hospital.
Consequently, doctors are saving lives by operating quickly in cases that would have meant certain death because of delayed treatment ten years ago.
In a lot of ways, this development is evidence that mainstream medicine is very proficient at treating acute conditions that are life-threatening, when it puts its collective mind to it. This concerted effort to make sure that heart attack victims are treated swiftly and with the most effective measures shows off one of the strengths of our medical system.
Fact is, when you’re suffering a heart attack, time is not your friend. The quicker you get treatment, the better your odds of survival.
But although hospitals have improved their performance, you still have to do your part to help keep yourself alive. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of a heart attack and call 911 as soon as possible for help if you encounter one of these heart attack symptoms:
- Pain in your upper abdomen or upper back – this happens most frequently in women.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Left shoulder pain or numbness; aching down your left arm or into your jaw.
- Chest heaviness, tightness, squeezing, burning, pressure or discomfort.
- Palpitations of the heart — beating fast or irregularly.
- Tight throat or a lump in the throat.
- Cold sweat.
- Nausea.
- Sense of impending doom.
- Weakness.
- Symptoms that begin with low intensity and increase over several minutes.
- Taking a deep breath, pressing on the chest or moving the part of the body where symptoms are occurring do not make the pain worse.
Despite the improvement in the survival of heart attacks, heart disease is still the leading killer of Americans. When a heart problem strikes, if you get help immediately you can put the odds in your favor of staying alive.
You can also decrease your odds of experiencing a heart attack with a positive mood. Of course I’d also advocate a heart healthy diet and some form of exercise, but according to Danish research involving 600 people with coronary disease:
- People with the most upbeat attitudes performed more exercise and had a 42 percent less chance of dying during their study.
- Having a positive attitude and working out also reduced the risk of hospitalizations to treat heart-related problems.
So stay alert of the signs of a heart attack, stay positive and stay healthy!
