Heart Emergencies Require Timely Care
3/11/2021
Pay attention to the warning signs and don’t let the pandemic stop you
We’ve changed habits and actions to protect our health during the pandemic, but one thing still remains the same – we need to take quick action with a possible heart attack or stroke. Life-threatening blockages and arrhythmias need timely detection and treatment to support the best possible outcome. Waiting to get help can increase the damage to heart muscle or brain tissue.
Commonwealth Health’s Emergency Departments have deep resources ready to support diagnosis and intervention in the event of heart attack or stroke. Moses Taylor Hospital, Regional Hospital of Scranton, Tyler Memorial Hospital, and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital are all designated as Accredited Chest Pain Centers by ACC Accreditation Services (American College of Cardiology). Our cardiac specialists are specifically trained in rapid response, assessment and treatment of heart attacks and other life-threatening cardiac emergencies.
Concern for safety during the pandemic has kept many people from seeking medical help and that can get in the way of timely treatment in an emergency. Commonwealth Health is actively working to maintain a safe place patients can get medical help whether for a medical emergency or routine care.
“Patients have become fearful of seeking medical care during the pandemic,” said Dr. Matthew Stopper, a cardiologist at Regional Hospital of Scranton. “I have a simple message for patients if they experience symptoms of a heart attack or stroke; they need to get to an emergency room quickly. With the right help, most people can recover but if patients delay or avoid treatment, they may suffer life-limiting complications or die.”
The hospitals’ precautions include enhanced practices for infection prevention, reduced access to the facility, and furniture arrangement to support social distancing and patient flow. Caregivers practice infection prevention including wearing personal protective equipment and washing hands before and after caring for each patient. Care for any COVID-19 positive patients is in a separate, designated unit.
Calling 9-1-1 for an ambulance is the best action rather than trying to drive to the hospital yourself when you or someone you are with experiences heart attack or stroke symptoms. EMS crews are trained to care for patients experiencing a heart attack and stroke, so you’ll get medical care sooner.
Signs of a possible heart attack can include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, and/or pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder. Women also may feel nauseous, light-headed or unusually tired.
Symptoms of a stroke can be remembered with the acronym - BE FAST:
- Balance - Is the person suddenly having trouble with balance or coordination?
- Eyes - Is the person experiencing suddenly blurred or double vision or a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes?
- Face drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
- Arm weakness - Is one arm weak or numb?
- Speech difficulty - Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand?
- Time to call 911 - If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
If you need more information on your personal risk factors for heart disease, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor, or call 1-800-838-WELL to be connected with one of Commonwealth Health’s qualified cardiologists.
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