COLUMBIA, Tenn. – Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) is encouraging individuals to help promote awareness of cardiovascular disease by participating in National Wear Red Day on Feb. 3.
The annual event provides an opportunity to show support for heart health by wearing red. Cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 killer of both American men and women, accounting for more than 800,000 deaths in the U.S. every year, according to the American Heart Association. Here are more facts:
∙ Cardiovascular disease is responsible for one in three deaths in the U.S. every year
∙ About 11% of American adults have been diagnosed with heart disease
∙ 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease
∙ Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease
∙ The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women and men
∙ Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol
“Increasing awareness about the threat of this disease is imperative to changing these statistics,” said Maury Regional Health (MRH) CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “Both men and women should be aware of the signs and symptoms and contact 911 immediately if they think they may be experiencing a heart or stroke-related problem.”
Cardiovascular disease can often lead to heart attacks and strokes, where symptoms can sometimes be hard to spot and can even present themselves differently in women than in men.
Warning signs of a heart attack include tightness or pain in the chest, discomfort in other parts of the upper body such as the back or jaw, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue and nausea. Women can be more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, or back or jaw pain.
The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm or leg, most often on one side of the body. Other signs include sudden confusion, trouble seeing or blurred vision, dizziness or loss of balance, and a sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Anyone who thinks they might be experiencing heart problems should call 911 immediately. Emergency responders are equipped to begin treatment immediately and relay vital information to the hospital while in route to the Emergency Department. Physicians and staff are then waiting for the patient and can begin treatment immediately. Treatments may include intervention in the cardiac catheterization lab to open the blocked vessel or, in severe cases, open heart surgery.
MRMC’s average door-to-balloon time — the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital to when a blocked artery is opened — is 53 minutes, according to Maury Regional Health Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Cathy Malone. That is 37 minutes ahead of the standard time recommended by American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines (90 minutes).
“We’re extremely proud of our door-to-balloon time and the work our staff does to treat patients quickly and effectively,” Malone said. “If you’re experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. Getting care as soon as possible is critical to recovery when dealing with a cardiac event, and every minute counts.”
MRMC is recognized as a Chest Pain Center with PCI by the American College of Cardiology and holds certification in the treatment of heart failure from The Joint Commission. Learn more at MauryRegional.com/heart.
