Prescriptions for Health: Know the signs of a heart attack

The weekly Prescriptions for Health column is part of an ongoing community health education effort by Franklin Memorial Hospital to provide information on an important health topic by its medical staff, with support from intern Sam Bennett, a junior at the University of Maine at Farmington majoring in biology and creative writing.

By Dr. Lesley West

Did you know that the warning signs of a heart attack can show up weeks before one occurs? For that reason, many heart attacks can be prevented.

The most common sign of a heart attack is a sensation of pain or pressure in the center of the chest that lasts for about 15 minutes or goes away and comes back. But there are other warning signs as well, such as pain in the arms, back, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; sweating; nausea; or lightheadedness. Not all heart attacks involve chest pain, particularly those in women and diabetics.

If you think that you might be having a heart attack, get help as soon as you can. You should wait no longer than five minutes before calling 911 if you notice the symptoms. You should also call an ambulance to take you to the hospital rather than driving there yourself or having a family member bring you, since paramedics can get started on treating you right away.

With a condition as serious as a heart attack, even an extra minute of treatment could be the difference between life and death. Take an aspirin, or nitroglycerin if it’s been prescribed to you. For aspirin, you’ll get the fastest results if you chew the tablets – tests have shown that chewing aspirin can reduce blood clotting by 50 percent within 5 minutes! Nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue and left to dissolve. Once you get to the hospital, a doctor will perform a test to confirm whether or not you’re having a heart attack, and if it turns out you are, he or she can take action.

If you see someone else collapse, call 911, just as you would if you felt you were having a heart attack. While you wait for an ambulance, the person on the other end will be able to give you advice on what to do. For instance, you may be asked to perform CPR. Unless you have received proper CPR training, it’s best to skip the mouth-to-mouth component and stick to doing about 100 chest compressions per minute.

It’s smart to be up to date on the signs of a heart attack. As with any problem, the sooner you take action, the better. Don’t miss your chance to save your life or someone else’s.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer some ounce-of-prevention tips:
· Exercise regularly, eat well, and watch your weight;
· If you smoke, quit, and stay away from secondhand smoke;
· If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation; and
· Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55.

Most importantly, remember if you ever think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack—don’t wait—call 911 immediately.

Dr. Lesley West is affiliated with Maine Medical Partners MaineHealth Cardiology, and provides cardiology-consulting services at Franklin Memorial Hospital Tuesday through Friday. She specializes in providing comprehensive cardiovascular care, including: non-invasive cardiology, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography, pacemaker management, and treatment for congestive heart failure. Dr. West resides in Wilton with her husband Rock.