'Quality of Life' health series debuts at Oak Park Arms

The Oak Park Arms Retirement Community announces a new series of informational programs titled “Quality of Life.” A topic of interest about senior health issues will be presented monthly by a medical or lifestyle expert. All presentations take place at the Oak Park Arms Retirement Community, 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park. The public is warmly welcome.

Because February is American Heart Month, the first Quality of Life program is “Heart Awareness” at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Information will be provided by a health professional from Interim Wellness.

Unfortunately, heart attacks and heart disease are a sad fact of a life with the country’s current state of health. The numbers are on the rise largely due to poor diet choices as well as environmental toxins and bad health habits.

According to the American Heart Association, some heart attacks are sudden and intense where there is no doubt about what’s happening. However, most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.  
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. 
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness   
  As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Heart discomfort is rarely a sharp, stabbing pain. The textbook description is a feeling of heaviness, pressure, tightness or aching in the chest, usually accompanied by shortness of breath.

The pain frequently isn't especially severe, which is, perhaps, unfortunate. This fact may permit the patient to delay seeking treatment for as much as four to six hours. By then, the heart may have suffered irreversible damage.

Do not ignore this sort of pain. Frequently, it is the only warning a person will get.

Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out. Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car.

Also, EMS staffs are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.

This talk is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040