Senior help not only involves knowing the warning signs of a heart attack, but also what actions those offering senior help should take once a heart attack is suspected. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reported in 2005 that there are 1,260,00 new and recurrent coronary attacks per year. Additionally, those providing senior help should note that about 37 percent of people who experience a heart attack in a year die from them. That also indicates that there are senior help actions that can and should be taken to help the other 63% percent of heart attack victims to live through the event.
What are the some of the warning signs that those offering senior help should know?
Chest discomfort is based at the center of the chest, squeezing, fullness, pain or pressure. It is reported that this discomfort can come and go or last up to a few minutes.
Extreme chest pain or a feeling that someone is standing on your chest
Shortness of breath can accompany the discomfort, or it can be the only symptom
Jaw pain, pain in one or both arms, the back, neck or even stomach
Some experience light-headedness, a cold sweat and nausea
Those providing senior help should be aware that these are just the most common symptoms, but there can be others. The symptoms vary so if you are providing senior help, don’t hesitate to act if you suspect a heart attack. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Senior help care workers should also understand some of the risks that can lead to heart attack. If you offer senior help to those who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, are overweight, inactive or who use tobacco, they are at higher risk for a heart attack. In these cases, you may offer senior help in the form of accompanying them to visit a doctor to determine what they might do to get these diseases controlled as best as possible try and avoid heart trouble.
The American Heart Association instructs those offering senior help or assisting anyone who has symptoms that may suggest a heart to call 9-1-1 or if the ER is unresponsive, start CPR. Emergency Medical Technicians offer senior help multiple times a day. Their senior help assistance during a heart attack will help the patient get the quickest lifesaving treatment possible. They can quickly assess a patient and radio ahead to the hospital staff that they are bringing a heart attack victim in. The American Heart Association also reports that EMS staff get patients treated up to an hour sooner than if they had arrived by car.
Tips for Senior Help and Heart Attacks
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