Transcript Conversion of Computer Tech

Early Heart
Attack Care
(EHAC)
Heart attacks have
beginnings
Course Outline
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Anatomy and physiology 101: Your Heart
A Heart Attack in Progress
Concepts of Early Heart Attack Care
Recognition and Intervention
Delay and Denial
You: The Early Heart Attack Care Giver
Part 1
Anatomy and
Physiology 101:
Your Heart
The Human Heart
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Location:
Size:
Purpose:
Weight:
Capacity:
Middle of the chest
That of a fist
Pumps blood throughout the body
7 – 12 ounces
Pumps 1,800 gallons of blood &
beats over 100,000 times daily
The Human Heart and Coronary
Arteries
The Human Heart Electric Pump
Part 2
A Heart Attack in
Progress
Heart Attack Facts
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#1 Killer of adults
4,100 Heart attacks every day
600,000 Heart attack deaths each year
Hundreds of thousands survive but are left with a
damaged heart
Three Presentations of a Heart
Attack
• Sudden, severe pain that stops you in your tracks
• Gradual increasing pain with damage occurring over
a period of hours
• Very early presentation with mild symptoms over
hours or days
Coronary Artery Disease
Ischemia & Angina Pectoris
Complete Obstruction: AMI
Part 3
Concepts of Early
Heart Attack Care
(EHAC)
Are All Heart Attacks Created Equal?
Progress: Heart Attack Treatment
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Thrombolytic Therapy (Clot Busters)
Angioplasty
Pre-hospital Cardiac Care
Decrease in hospital time to treatment
saved heart muscle
improvement in quality of
life
Too Little Progress: Heart Attack
Recognition
• Most heart attack patients do not benefit from
optimal medical advances…………………………Why?
Delay
• In recognizing and responding to the early warning
signs of a heart attack
Why EHAC?
• Early Care: Recognize & Respond
– Often mild symptoms, usually normal activity
• Late Care: Obvious Emergency & Respond
– Incapacitating pain, diminished activity
• Too Late Care: Critical Emergency & Respond
– Unconscious, CPR, defibrillation, probable death
• 85% of the heart damage takes place within the
first two hours
Part 4
Recognition and
Intervention
Early Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Non-Specific Heart
Attack Symptoms:
Specific Heart Attack
Symptoms:
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Weakness/Fatigue
Clammy/Sweating
Nausea/Indigestion
Dizziness/Nervousness
Shortness of Breath
Neck/Back/Jaw Pain
Feeling of Doom
Elbow Pain
Chest Discomfort
Chest Pressure
Chest Ache
Chest Burning
Chest Fullness
Early Signs of Heart Attack
• Present in up to half of heart attacks
• Suddenly accelerate preceding the heart attack
• Usually appear within 24 hours before the acute
attack but can begin two to three weeks before
• Duration varies from a few minutes to several hours
• Usually intermittent with a pain free period before the
onset of acute occlusion
Part 5
Delay and Denial
Why Do We Delay?
Denial and Procrastination = Our Heart’s Enemy
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It’s nothing really serious (I’ll just rest a bit)
I’m too busy right now (I don’t have time to be sick)
I don’t want to be a problem (If it turns out to be nothing,
I’ll be embarrassed by the fuss made)
Paramedics Beware (First responders can easily be swayed
by patient rationalizations and denials)
It’s probably heart burn or indigestion (I’ll take something for
it)
I’m strong (Just walk it off, grin and bear it)
I’m healthy (I have no serious medical problems… I exercise)
I’ll just wait it out (Everything will be okay)
Part 6
You: The Early Heart
Attack Care Giver
What To Ask and Look For
• Do you have any chest discomfort?
• Is it tightness, pressure, pain in the center of your
chest?
• Is the discomfort also in your arms or jaw or neck or
throat or back?
• Are you sick to your stomach?
• Is the person sweaty or clammy?
• What were you doing when the symptoms started?
• Do the symptoms go away with rest?
• Are you having any shortness of breath?
Listen to Your Heart and Be A
Winner!
• Be aware of pressure, not necessarily pain, in your chest
• Be aware if it increases with activity and subsides with
rest
• Don’t try to rationalize it away; be honest with yourself
and others
• Call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest
emergency room
• Don’t go to your doctor’s office or wait for an
appointment
• EHAC is knowing the subtle danger signs and acting on
them before damage occurs
Any questions?
www.somc.org
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