By Angela Myhrwold
Louisa, Ky – Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States. According to the American Heart association, more women die of heart disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
Eighty percent of cardiac events in the women could be prevented if women would make the right choice involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking. Make it your mission to learn all about you can about heart attacks and stroke.
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die. There are a variety of symptoms beyond chest pain or shortness of breath – many of which go unnoticed by women!
Stroke
Stroke is the number 3 cause of death in America. Stroke and TIA (transient ischemic attack) happen when a blood vessel feeding the brain gets clogged or bursts. The signs of a stroke can include sudden confusion, numbness or severe headaches.
Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appear. With a stroke, minutes matter. It’s very important to take immediate action. Research from the American Heart Association has shown that if given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.
Heart Care at Three Rivers
Three Rivers Medical Center is recognized as an Accredited Chest Pain Center. Chest Pain Center accreditation encompasses many facets of the hospital’s heart care program: direct patient care, clinical education and strategic planning for future program development. As an accredited Chest Pain Center, Three Rivers Medical Center regularly undergoes onsite review of its operations and patient care processes by a panel of SCPC experts.
Join us on Friday, February 6th for National Wear Red Day by wearing red to raise awareness for heart disease.
Three Rivers Medical Center has been awarded Joint Commission Top Performer distinction four years in a row. The Emergency Department is an Accredited Chest Pain Center. TRMC is a 90-bed, acute care facility. It is accredited by The Joint Commission. With over 80 medical staff members, TRMC offers cardiology, general surgery, nephrology, orthopedics, urology, gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, podiatry, 24-hour emergency care, diagnostic radiation, rehabilitative services and mental health.
To learn more about our Accredited Chest Pain Center, visit www.threeriversmedicalcenter.com.
