Heart Health
by Betty Mitchell RN BSN
Parish Nurse, Emmanuel Bethel Church, Royal Oak, Michigan
All adults know the significance of the heart to our health — if the heart stops, we die. We know it pumps blood throughout the body to take oxygen to the cells and remove waste products from them. Therefore, people become very anxious when they or their family member have problems with their heart. Maybe the following will help you to understand more about our hearts, and what we are praying for when others have heart difficulties.
Two terms — heart attack and cardiac arrest — are often associated with heart problems. They are two different problems.
Heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked. When an artery to an area of the heart is blocked for any length of time and the heart is not receiving oxygen-rich blood, the cells in the affected area begin to die. It becomes important to determine what area of the heart is being deprived of oxygen and open the affected artery quickly.
The most common indication of a heart attack is severe discomfort in the chest or other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, cold sweats and/or nausea/vomiting. Some of these symptoms may be mildly present days or weeks before severe symptoms occur. Damage to the heart may be occurring with the milder symptoms, since the heart does not stop beating during a heart attack.
Cardiac arrest occurs when an electrical malfunction in the heart causes irregular heartbeats. Since the pumping action is disrupted, the oxygen-rich blood is unable to reach the brain, lungs and other organs needed to sustain life.
When a cardiac arrest occurs, immediate medical action is needed to reverse the irregular heart beating.
911 is the first number to call if you suspect you or someone you know may be having a heart attack or cardiac arrest. The sooner medical attention arrives and the person arrives at the hospital, the quicker proper medical treatment is started. Driving yourself or someone else to the hospital who has chest pain often delays treatment for up to an hour, if 911 is not called.
If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it after 911 is called. The AED will provide a shock to the heart if it is not beating properly.
Women experiencing a heart attack may not have the same symptoms as men. They may have shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Since most women do not believe heart disease will affect them, are you taking good care of the women in your life to be sure they are heart healthy?
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
