Posted on 07/15/2009 4:49:33 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Heart attack symptoms vary. Most people know about extreme chest- and left arm pain, although there may be no pain in the chest during a heart attack.
Other signs include intense jaw pain, as well as nausea and profuse sweating. The latter may occur less frequently; nevertheless, it is important to be aware of these potential danger signs.
What happens if you are sleeping when you have a heart attack? The majority of people (about 60 percent) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, severe pain may wake you from a deep sleep.
If that is the case, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with some water. Then phone 911. Say "heart attack" and that you have taken two aspirins. Unlock the front door and sit nearby. Do not lie down.
These simple, potential life-saving steps are worth noting.
I had a heart attack a few years ago while on chemo. I take a baby aspirin a day and blood pressure med. It helps but I’m pretty much resigned to my fate. One thing that aggravates chest pain is caffeine. It’s best to stay off it. I like that tip about unlocking the front door and waiting for the 9/11 response. IF you CAN get to the front door, that is.
This is taught in CPR training, but not everyone has had such training, so it bears repeating.
Thanks again,
MM
What about forcing a deep cough every 5 seconds (or something like that)? I understood that the cough forces your heart to continue pushing that blood around.
I could be wrong on this.
An Aspirin at bedside????
Why not just take the damn thing before bed!?!?!?
Or did I miss something?
This makes me wonder if my cell phone is connected to 911 so they can find me
I’ve had several heart attacks. My usual MO is to be fully dressed, standing on the curb in front of the house with an overnight bag packed, while saying “OW! [bad word]OW! [bad word]OW! [bad word]” when the ambulance pulls up. I then collapse into the gurney in the ambulance.
They HATE it when I do that, but I usually retain lucid consciousness so that I can answer their questions about the pain and symptoms.
cool. Thanks.
911 works by providing an address associated with your number. Wireless can be anywhere and without triangulation there is no way for them to automatically know where you are.
Conversely, a land line has an address associated with it and they will know where to come get you.
I am in telecom and provide Hosted PBX/Telephony solutions(VoIP) to businesses. Many times these businesses will have remote users who work from home.
They sign a specific form acknowledging the terms and our ability to provide this service and what the limitations are.
If they use a soft phone or move the phone to another location the PSAP cannot know where that phone is, just as a wireless caller's address cannot be determined.
We ask them to fill out a form for their remote users and they provide the address associated with the phone and we make the corporation and user responsible for the information.
Additionally, here in Northern California, Bay Area, all 911 calls originating on a wireless/cellular device are routed to the Vallejo CHP office. This office is completely understaffed to handle call volume at rush hour and I have waited 20 minutes, on my cell phone, to inform them of an accident. Guess what? Probably 100 other people who saw or passed the accident made a call to 911 so another human being would be helped.
Now, imaging you are at home you have a heart attack, cut your arm with a chainsaw and are bleeding heavily. You call 911 with a cell phone and wait, wait, wait....
If you want life saving help from a policeman, ambulance, fire department, whatever, DO IT FROM A LANDLINE.
Landline calls go to the local 911 center and answered immediately. Provided it is not the end of the world for the rest of society, someone will be at your door in minutes.
Most of the time.
Bottom line if you want help
Amen!
I also take a baby aspirin a day and closely monitor my BP. We do not have a history of heart disease, but my mom did have a stroke, so I’m not taking any chances.
Well, I don't have a home phone, so I guess I'll just lie down and die if I have a heart attack in the night. Or a fire, or a break-in. Sucks to be me.
Oh wait! By jove, I've got it! I'll TELL the 911 operator my adress!
Naw, never mind, too complicated.
PS I have used my cell phone to call 911 five or six times over the last few years to report auto accidents (mine and others’), a fire at a neighbor’s house, and a man on the street who collapsed.
I got an instant connection and super fast on-the scene response.
It’s excellent advice. I keep a bottle of good old generic 325mg aspirin in my desk drawer at work. Lots of potential heart-attacks walking around my building.
I have been wondering about keeping some in my car for emergency situations. Will the heat spoil them? What if I get some of those foil single-dose packs like what they way overcharge you for at 7-11?
Joe, just this week, I had to take my husband to the ER for chest pains/pressure. Two days in the hospital; no heart attack...negative stress test. But we (they) don’t ‘know’ what caused the pain (he is a 52 year old, Type II diabetic). I found, by total chance (providence???) these little metal key chain bottles (at the pharmacy at Wal-Mart). They were about $2.00 a peice, the hold pills...(but in our case .325 aspirin tabs). I bought one for each of us...and now have an aspirin bottle in the kitchen, upstairs, at his desk a work (and we always have a our car keys with us when out).
The scare was/is still very ‘real’ (his dad and uncle both died in the their early/mid fifties)...so I am so thankful you are posting this.
Folks...look for those keychain holders...and keep aspirin handy!!!
BTW, Bayer now has crystalized asprin which comes in powdered form. Pour the crystals on your tongue and drinks a glass of water. The asprin enters your bloodstream faster.
A relatively new product.
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