Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks.
Among the 515 women studied, 95-percent said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack, or Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6-percent), sleep disturbance (47.8-percent), and shortness of breath (42.1-percent).
Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Most doctors, however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom in both women and men.
The NIH study, titled "Women's Early Warning Symptoms of AMI," is one of the first to investigate women's experience with heart attacks, and how this experience differs from men's. Recognition of symptoms that provide an early indication of heart attack, either imminently or in the near future, is critical to forestalling or preventing the disease.
In a NIH press release, Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator of the study at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, said, "Symptoms such as indigestion, sleep disturbances, or weakness in the arms, which many of us experience on a daily basis, were recognized by many women in the study as warning signals for AMI. Because there was considerable variability in the frequency and severity of symptoms," she added, "we need to know at what point these symptoms help us predict a cardiac event."
Women's symptoms not as predictable. According to Patricia A.Grady, PhD, RN, Director of the NINR, "Increasingly, it is evident that women's symptoms are not as predictable as men's. This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate heart attack. It is important not to miss the earliest possible opportunity to prevent or ease AMI, which is the number one cause of death in both women and men."
The women's major symptoms prior to their heart attack included:[/br]
•Unusual fatigue - 70%
•Sleep disturbance - 48%
•Shortness of breath - 42%
•Indigestion - 39%
•Anxiety - 35%
Major symptoms during the heart attack include:
•Shortness of breath - 58%
•Weakness - 55%
•Unusual fatigue - 43%
•Cold sweat - 39%
•Dizziness - 39%
Related NIH research into heart attacks in women includes possible ethnic and racial differences.
Article Source: Robert Longley, About.com Guide
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Learn more about heart attack; the sipmtoms, the course and anythings that related.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Heart Attack Cost - How Costly?
With the rising cost of medical services, is it any wonder that heart attack cost is a big winner for those medical services that work in this area. But guess who the big loser is in this heart attack cost ball game? You got it... the heart attack victim.
Even with new medical procedures and breakthroughs in the treatment and repair of a heart problem, heart attack cost has skyrocketed beyond your wildest dreams. The cost associated with a heart attack is not common knowledge, and until you enter the game and get up close and personal, will you learn this is one game you should have avoided.
Your first heart attack cost, most likely will be, general ambulance service. Figure on at least $800-$1500 or more depending on your location.
Your second heart attack cost will be ambulance medical support, figure on an additional $100+.
Your third heart attack cost will be emergency room general services at your local hospital. Figure on at least $750, then professional fees for emergency room, another $250 or so. Then tack on miscellaneous supplies, $500 for laboratory tests, about $300 for EKG, plus X-ray drugs etc - for a grand total so far of about $2500 for your emergency room visit.
Your fourth major heart attack cost will most likely be your stay in the ICU of your local hospital, until they figure out what to do with you. Figure on a day at a cost of about $850.
Now that you have the basic heart attack cost out of the way, unless you live within reach of a major medical facility with a heart specialist on staff, you are going to get a ride in a plane or helicopter. Figure on an additional $5000-$6000 for this opportunity.
Now we are getting to the real meat of our heart attack cost. You have already spent about $10,000 or so getting to this point. The next heart attack cost will make that seem like pocket change!
You can figure on about $22,000-$25,000 for your stay in the heart medical center, while they discover your heart problem and try to repair your heart damage. And this does not include the surgeons cost, which can add additional thousands to your overall heart attack cost. So now your heart attack cost is over $40,000. If everything goes well and your heart problem can be corrected by Coronary Angioplasty, you are left with one remaining heart attack cost, the chemical or treadmill stress test. This could add as much as $5,000 more to your already growing bill.
Your minimum heart attack cost for this overall experience will be about $45,000-$50,000! If the Coronary Angioplasty procedure cannot repair your damage and open heart surgery is needed, your heart attack cost could more than double.
By choosing foods with lower fat and cholesterol content, quitting smoking... if you do smoke, keeping your blood pressure under control, and exercising regularly, you may avoid this dangerous and costly experience... and eliminate heart attack cost for good.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_L._Taylor
Even with new medical procedures and breakthroughs in the treatment and repair of a heart problem, heart attack cost has skyrocketed beyond your wildest dreams. The cost associated with a heart attack is not common knowledge, and until you enter the game and get up close and personal, will you learn this is one game you should have avoided.
Your first heart attack cost, most likely will be, general ambulance service. Figure on at least $800-$1500 or more depending on your location.
Your second heart attack cost will be ambulance medical support, figure on an additional $100+.
Your third heart attack cost will be emergency room general services at your local hospital. Figure on at least $750, then professional fees for emergency room, another $250 or so. Then tack on miscellaneous supplies, $500 for laboratory tests, about $300 for EKG, plus X-ray drugs etc - for a grand total so far of about $2500 for your emergency room visit.
Your fourth major heart attack cost will most likely be your stay in the ICU of your local hospital, until they figure out what to do with you. Figure on a day at a cost of about $850.
Now that you have the basic heart attack cost out of the way, unless you live within reach of a major medical facility with a heart specialist on staff, you are going to get a ride in a plane or helicopter. Figure on an additional $5000-$6000 for this opportunity.
Now we are getting to the real meat of our heart attack cost. You have already spent about $10,000 or so getting to this point. The next heart attack cost will make that seem like pocket change!
You can figure on about $22,000-$25,000 for your stay in the heart medical center, while they discover your heart problem and try to repair your heart damage. And this does not include the surgeons cost, which can add additional thousands to your overall heart attack cost. So now your heart attack cost is over $40,000. If everything goes well and your heart problem can be corrected by Coronary Angioplasty, you are left with one remaining heart attack cost, the chemical or treadmill stress test. This could add as much as $5,000 more to your already growing bill.
Your minimum heart attack cost for this overall experience will be about $45,000-$50,000! If the Coronary Angioplasty procedure cannot repair your damage and open heart surgery is needed, your heart attack cost could more than double.
By choosing foods with lower fat and cholesterol content, quitting smoking... if you do smoke, keeping your blood pressure under control, and exercising regularly, you may avoid this dangerous and costly experience... and eliminate heart attack cost for good.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_L._Taylor
What causes a heart attack?
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a gradual process in which plaques (collections) of cholesterol are deposited in the walls of arteries. Cholesterol plaques cause hardening of the arterial walls and narrowing of the inner channel (lumen) of the artery. Arteries that are narrowed by atherosclerosis cannot deliver enough blood to maintain normal function of the parts of the body they supply. For example, atherosclerosis of the arteries in the legs causes reduced blood flow to the legs. Reduced blood flow to the legs can lead to pain in the legs while walking or exercising, leg ulcers, or a delay in the healing of wounds to the legs.
In many people, atherosclerosis can remain silent (causing no symptoms or health problems) for years or decades. Atherosclerosis can begin as early as the teenage years, but symptoms or health problems usually do not arise until later in adulthood when the arterial narrowing becomes severe. Coronary artery disease refers to the atherosclerosis that causes hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries. Diseases caused by the reduced blood supply to the heart muscle from coronary atherosclerosis are called coronary heart diseases (CHD). Coronary heart diseases include heart attacks, sudden unexpected death, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure due to weakening of the heart muscle.
Atherosclerosis and angina pectoris
Angina pectoris (also referred to as angina) is chest pain or pressure that occurs when the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle cannot keep up with the needs of the muscle. When coronary arteries are narrowed by more than 50 to 70 percent, the arteries cannot increase the supply of blood to the heart muscle during exercise or other periods of high demand for oxygen. An insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle causes angina.
Angina that occurs with exercise or exertion is called exertional angina.
Exertional angina usually feels like a pressure, heaviness, squeezing, or aching across the chest. This pain may travel to the neck, jaw, arms, back, or even the teeth, and may be accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, or a cold sweat. Exertional angina typically lasts from 1 to 15 minutes and is relieved by rest or by placing a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue. Both resting and nitroglycerin decrease the heart muscle's demand for oxygen, thus relieving angina. Exertional angina may be the first warning sign of advanced coronary artery disease.
Chest pains that just last a few seconds rarely are due to coronary artery disease.
Angina also can occur at rest. Angina at rest more commonly indicates that a coronary artery has narrowed to such a critical degree that the heart is not receiving enough oxygen even at rest.
While heart attacks can occur at any time, most heart attacks occur between 4:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. because of the higher blood levels of adrenaline released from the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Increased adrenaline, as previously discussed, may contribute to rupture of cholesterol plaques.
Approximately 50% of patients who develop heart attacks have warning symptoms such as exertional angina or rest angina prior to their heart attacks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Atul_Bahl
Atherosclerosis is a gradual process in which plaques (collections) of cholesterol are deposited in the walls of arteries. Cholesterol plaques cause hardening of the arterial walls and narrowing of the inner channel (lumen) of the artery. Arteries that are narrowed by atherosclerosis cannot deliver enough blood to maintain normal function of the parts of the body they supply. For example, atherosclerosis of the arteries in the legs causes reduced blood flow to the legs. Reduced blood flow to the legs can lead to pain in the legs while walking or exercising, leg ulcers, or a delay in the healing of wounds to the legs.
In many people, atherosclerosis can remain silent (causing no symptoms or health problems) for years or decades. Atherosclerosis can begin as early as the teenage years, but symptoms or health problems usually do not arise until later in adulthood when the arterial narrowing becomes severe. Coronary artery disease refers to the atherosclerosis that causes hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries. Diseases caused by the reduced blood supply to the heart muscle from coronary atherosclerosis are called coronary heart diseases (CHD). Coronary heart diseases include heart attacks, sudden unexpected death, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure due to weakening of the heart muscle.
Atherosclerosis and angina pectoris
Angina pectoris (also referred to as angina) is chest pain or pressure that occurs when the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle cannot keep up with the needs of the muscle. When coronary arteries are narrowed by more than 50 to 70 percent, the arteries cannot increase the supply of blood to the heart muscle during exercise or other periods of high demand for oxygen. An insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle causes angina.
Angina that occurs with exercise or exertion is called exertional angina.
Exertional angina usually feels like a pressure, heaviness, squeezing, or aching across the chest. This pain may travel to the neck, jaw, arms, back, or even the teeth, and may be accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, or a cold sweat. Exertional angina typically lasts from 1 to 15 minutes and is relieved by rest or by placing a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue. Both resting and nitroglycerin decrease the heart muscle's demand for oxygen, thus relieving angina. Exertional angina may be the first warning sign of advanced coronary artery disease.
Chest pains that just last a few seconds rarely are due to coronary artery disease.
Angina also can occur at rest. Angina at rest more commonly indicates that a coronary artery has narrowed to such a critical degree that the heart is not receiving enough oxygen even at rest.
While heart attacks can occur at any time, most heart attacks occur between 4:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. because of the higher blood levels of adrenaline released from the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Increased adrenaline, as previously discussed, may contribute to rupture of cholesterol plaques.
Approximately 50% of patients who develop heart attacks have warning symptoms such as exertional angina or rest angina prior to their heart attacks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Atul_Bahl
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense -- but most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.
The following signs should not be ignored - they can mean a heart attack is happening:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Even though the symptoms of a heart attack at times can be vague and mild, it is important to remember that heart attacks producing no symptoms or only mild symptoms can be just as serious and life-threatening as heart attacks that cause severe chest pain.
Too often patients attribute heart attack symptoms to "indigestion," "fatigue," or "stress," and consequently delay seeking prompt medical attention. One cannot overemphasize the importance of seeking prompt medical attention in the presence of symptoms that suggest a heart attack. Early diagnosis and treatment saves lives, and delays in reaching medical assistance can be fatal. A delay in treatment can lead to permanently reduced function of the heart due to more extensive damage to the heart muscle. Death also may occur as a result of the sudden onset of arrhythmias.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Atul_Bahl
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack [or Myocardial Infarction (MI)] occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. Often, this blockage leads to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat or rhythm) that cause a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death. If the blockage is not treated within a few hours, the affected heart muscle will die and be replaced by scar tissue.
A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack and how to get emergency help. Many people suffer permanent damage to their hearts or die because they do not get help immediately.
If care is sought soon enough, blood flow in the blocked artery can be restored in time to prevent permanent damage to the heart. Yet, most people do not seek medical care for 2 hours or more after symptoms begin. Many people wait 12 hours or longer.
A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack and how to get emergency help. Many people suffer permanent damage to their hearts or die because they do not get help immediately.
If care is sought soon enough, blood flow in the blocked artery can be restored in time to prevent permanent damage to the heart. Yet, most people do not seek medical care for 2 hours or more after symptoms begin. Many people wait 12 hours or longer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Atul_Bahl
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