Utilize family and caregivers to obtain baseline information. Geriatric focus - The presence of dementia in the elderly patient can make it hard to accurately access the mental status. If the patient does not respond to either painful or verbal stimuli If the patient does not respond to verbal stimuli, he may respond to painful stimuli such a sternal (breastbone) rub or a gentle pinch to the shoulder The patient may speak, grunt, groan, or simply look at you This is a patient who appears to be unresponsive at first, but will respond to a loud verbal stimulus from you - Note that the term verbal does not mean that the patient is answering your questions or initiating a conversation. The alert patient is will be awake, responsive, oriented, and talking with you Assess the patient's mental status - Initially this may mean determine if the patient is responsive or unresponsive.Form a general impression of the patient - The general impression will help you decide the seriousness of the patient's condition based on his level of distress and mental status.Aspirin can interact with other medications and should be taken only when advised by a medical professional.The initial assessment has six components Take aspirin, but only if prescribed by your doctor.Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed by your doctor.If You Believe You Are Having a Heart Attack, Do Not Wait to Get HelpĬall 911 or have someone take you to the nearest hospital emergency room. Shortness of breath, even when no physical activity has been performed.Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain.Pressure, tightness, or pain in the chest.If you haven’t done anything physical to trigger that back pain, and you’re also feeling anxious or very tired along with the pain, that may mean you are experiencing a heart attack. Sometimes people who have no risk factors and are otherwise considered healthy can have heart attacks. If you smoke or have diabetes, your chances of having a heart attack increase. The best guide is to know your personal baseline and understand your risk factors.
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It is important to be checked if you have any unusual symptoms, have risk factors for heart attack, or have a combination of symptoms that might suggest a problem. Plus, many people disregard symptoms as something minor. Not all heart attacks are alike, and not all people have the same severity of symptoms. Heart attack-related back, neck, or jaw pain is also more diffuse, so it’s difficult to pinpoint its exact location.Ī woman’s heart attack isn’t like a man’sĭon’t ignore heart attack or stroke symptoms: Louisville-area emergency rooms are prepared While the heart may be starving for oxygen, the nerves connecting the heart to the brain also merge with those connecting the head and neck, so the signals get misinterpreted.
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Why would discomfort in the back be a clue to a heart attack? The answer is “referred pain.” This is when the brain is confused about the origin of the pain. (502) 891-8300 What Does Upper Back Pain Have to Do With a Heart Attack?
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Norton Heart & Vascular Institute specialists treat more people for heart and vascular care - about 250,000 every year - than any other provider in Louisville and Southern Indiana.