Fight Back Against Heart Attacks
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By Karen McNew
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: March 28, 2008
If you think you’re having a heart attack - call 9-1-1. It could save your life.
According to a new study from UCLA, only about half of heart attack victims get to the hospital by ambulance, while others get to the emergency room on their own.
But, when you come by yourself, you could have to wait in line for treatment. Plus, paramedics can diagnose heart attacks more quickly, alerting e-r doctors you’re on the way.
A beautiful day at Smith Mountain Lake was cut short for Doctor Frank Gearing from Harrisonburg.
Dr. Frank Gearing: I was playing tennis and didn’t feel right having a little trouble keeping my head in the game.
He’s one of 6 heart attack patients treated in 24 hours at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. In the room next door Wayne Wray is recovering from a heart attack too.
Wayne Wray: I said well we’ll wait a few minutes and maybe it will go away but it didn’t.
Doctor Paul Frantz is the Medical Director of Cardiac Services at Carilion Clinic and says you should never wait.
Dr. Paul Frantz: The thing that concerns me the most, is that most people wait on average over two hours.
Wayne didn’t wait that long and now he’s recovering, but it scared everyone including his daughter Kimberly.
Kimberly Parrish: That’s the one thing I have always been afraid of getting a call you never want that call.
Wayne Wray: My wife said we need to go to the hospital.
And while Mr. Wray’s wife drove him to the hospital because they just live ten minutes away, I’m told the best option is to always call 911. Paramedics can start that critical care at home before you get to the hospital.
Dr. Frantz: 50 percent of patients having their first heart attack don’t survive long enough to make it to the hospital.
Wayne Wray: It doesn’t pay to play around with something like that.
Dr. Frank Gearing: I was bragging at the beginning of the year that I was the healthiest person at the office.
Link to more information about heart attack signs and symptoms.
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