Early Heart Attack Care

Facts about heart disease

It’s the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.
- 50% of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside the hospital because people don’t take action in the early stages.
Each year, about 715,000 people in the United States have a heart attack.

Nearly 8 million people in the United States (3%) have had a heart attack.
Every 44 seconds someone in the United States has a heart attack.

(source: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov)

Don’t Become A Statistic – Get Educated, Get Help, Take Precaution

Early heart attack care is about knowing the subtle danger signs that can occur days or weeks before a heart attack. By paying attention to mild changes in your body, you can prevent a heart attack and significant irreversible, damage to your heart.

85% of heart damage occurs within 2 hours of the onset of chest pain

Awareness and Early Treatment Saves Lives

People may or may not experience any or all of these symptoms. They may experience mild chest symptoms, such as pressure, burning, aching or tightness. These symptoms may come and go until finally becoming constant and severe.

Early Heart Attack Warning Signs:

Feeling of fullness
Nausea
Pain that travels down one or both arms
Jaw pain
Fatigue
Anxiety
Chest pressure, squeezing, or discomfort
Back pain
Shortness of breath

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, take 4 baby aspirin or one adult strength aspirin (325 mg), and call 9-1-1 immediately.

The St. Luke’s University Health Network is committed to providing patients with the knowledge and education needed to prevent heart attacks. Should you or someone you know need support, St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Center, a nationally recognized and award winning group, consists of a comprehensive team of talented professionals including board-certified cardiologists, electrophysiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Consistently performing above the national and state averages in the care of cardiac patients, all of our physicians work collaboratively, providing a seamless team approach to meet individual patient needs.

What you should know about St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Center:

1st hospital in the Lehigh Valley region to receive accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
Lowest mortality in the St. Luke's region for heart disease and heart surgery.
Among the Top 50 cardiovascular hospitals in the country, recognized by Truven Analytics.
Provides Heart & Vascular services at all six hospital campuses serving Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania and Warren county in New Jersey.

Trust Your Heart to St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe you or someone else is experiencing a heart attack.

Additional information can be found from these resources: