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MGN LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Heart attacks are a worry a number of people face as they age. The immediate symptom you probably think of is chest pain, but 1/3 of patients experience symptoms other than that while having a heart attack. Dr. Kshetrapal joins us to discuss heart health. Symptoms of heart attack include: Chest pain General malaise Frank exhaustion Nature of chest pain of heart attack Generally severe Varies in intensity Prolonged Usually central Described as constricting, crushing, oppressing Weight on chest Squeezing Can be stabbing Can radiate to arms, shoulder blades, jaw Other symptoms: Nausea and vomiting Profound weakness Dizziness Palpitations Cold perspiration Sense of impending doom Occasional diarrhea Some Statistics Approximately 800,000 patients have heart attacks each year In hospital mortality: 5-6% One year mortality: 7-18% 23% of heart attack patients have diabetes Patient delay is longer in: women, blacks, elderly, Medicaid only recipients Reasons for delay of treatment for heart attacks 1.Inappropriate reasoning 2.Attribution of symptoms to other pre existing condition 3.Fear of embarrassment if it turns out to be ‘false alarm’ 4.Pre conceived stereotypes 5.Especially common trait among women 6.Lack of knowledge of importance of rapid action 7.Attempted self treatment 8.Average patient doesn’t seek medical care for 1.5-2 hours Mode of transport to hospital: Greater than 98% of U.S. population covered by 911 service In 2011, study EMS transport was used for only 60% of patients with heart attacks Patients with possible heart attacks should be transported to the hospital by ambulance rather than friends or relatives. Risk factors for heart attacks and coronary artery disease: Smoking Other than advanced age, smoking is the single most important risk factor for coronary artery disease Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Hypertension (high blood pressure) Elevated cholesterol level Diabetes mellitus Lack of exercise, obesity Mental stress and depression Women may experience milder symptoms or more non specific symptoms. Fatigue Shortness of breath Nausea and vomiting Indigestion Arm and shoulder pain in absence of chest pain is more frequent among women than men It’s the leading cause of death among women, accounting for nearly 500,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. They are responsible for one in three deaths in women.