Heart to Heart

Thanks to my Diva Sister, Yvonne Osinga-Bisk for allowing me to share this crucially important information for all women! See below:

         Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction)

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack… you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman’s experience with a heart attack.

‘I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might’ve brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,’A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.’ A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you’ve been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you’ve swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in s low motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn’t have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation—the only trouble was that I hadn’t taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p. m.

‘After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when adminstering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.

‘AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening–we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven’t we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, ‘Dear God, I think I’m having a heart attack !’ I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself ‘If this is a heart attack, I shouldn’t be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else……. but, on the other hand, if I don’t, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.’

‘I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics… I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn’t feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

‘I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don’t remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like ‘Have you taken
any medications?’) but I couldn’t make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stents to hold open my right coronary artery.

‘I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents.

‘Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.’

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men’s symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn’t know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion,
take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they’ll feel better in the morning when they wake up…. which doesn’t happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you’ve not felt before. It is better to have a ‘false alarm’ visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said ‘Call the Paramedics’. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER–you’re a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what’s happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor–he doesn’t know where you live and if it’s at night you won’t reach him anyway, and if it’s daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn’t carry the
equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don’t assume it couldn’t be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it’s unbelievably high, and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI’s are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let’s be careful and be aware.
The more we know, the better chance we could survive..

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we’ll save at least one life.

**Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about**

 

http://www.Ryze.com/go/hoyo888

See the signs of a STROKE!

Thanks to Diva Kathryn, we have another crucial and very helpful tip to assist in identifying a STROKE! Read on…

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) …..she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.
 
They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening
 
Ingrid’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don’t die…. they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.
 
It only takes a minute to read this…
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke… totally . He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
 
RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the ‘3’ steps, STR . Read and Learn!
 
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
 
New Sign of a Stroke ——– Stick out Your Tongue 

If the tongue is crooked, or it goes to the other side, this too could be signs of a stroke!

Brain Care-

Take charge of your Brain Health There is a lot we can do to keep our brains healthy and potentially prevent or lessen cognitive problems at different stages in our lives. Screening of your brain health is important in the same way as a regular check of your cholesterol level. Regular screening of your everyday thinking skills allows you to track changes in your brain health over time. Screening is also the first step to differentiating, for example, between memory decline that is a normal part of aging and memory loss that may be part of a medical condition, and which may warrant further consultation. What can you do to take charge of your brain health? #1 Nourish Your Noggin: Eat a Brain Healthy Diet Research shows that well-balanced diets that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fish), protein, antioxidants (such as folic acid), fruits and vegetables, and vitamin B; that are low in trans fats; and which have an appropriate level of carbohydrates – will help keep our brains healthy. A diet that reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as maintains a healthy weight, is also good for our brains. #2 Use It or Lose It: Stay Mentally Active Those who use their minds may be less likely to lose cognitive function than those who don’t. Learning a new skill or language, completing the crossword puzzle, taking educational courses, even learning to dance – all challenge and help maintain the brain. #3 Work Out for Your Wits: Exercise and Keep Fit Exercise increases circulation and blood flow to the brain, improves coordination skills, and helps stave off diseases and conditions that make you more prone to dementia, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Those who exercise have been found to be less likely to develop dementia later in life. #4 Interact with Others: Stay Social Socializing with friends, volunteering, traveling, and even participating in favorite leisure activities helps to keep our minds active and healthy. Social engagements also reduce stress – which has been proven to destroy brain cells and detrimentally affect overall health. #5 Rest for Restoration: Get Plenty of Sleep Scientists are still trying to unlock all of the mysteries of sleep, but they are starting to find that a lack of sleep can negatively impact brain health. Getting sleep is a necessary piece of your brain fitness routine – so if you aren’t getting enough – find some time to catch some ZZZZZs. #6 Unwind for Your Mind: Manage Your Stress We have long known that stress can wreak havoc on our bodies – we now know it can do the same to our minds. Many of our lives’ daily stress can have a cumulative effect on our brains – impacting its ability to remember and to learn. So whether you prefer yoga or time with your kids, find ways to eliminate stress from your life. #7 Guard Your Gray Matter: Protect Your Head A number of studies have found an association between head injury and dementia. One study of World War II veterans found that those with a history of head trauma were twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s disease, and that the more severe the head injury, the higher the risk. While scientists have a lot to learn about this potential causal link, it is still a good idea to wear protective head gear and seat belts and guard your gray matter. #8 Understand Your Risk: Consider Your Genes While scientists believe there is much to be done to maintain our cognitive vitality, one factor that cannot be controlled is genetics. While you can’t change your genes yet, if your family history puts you at an increased risk of dementia, maintaining your brain health may help slow onset and progression. #9 Give Your Brain a Break: Avoid Unhealthy Habits Smoking, heavy drinking and the use of recreational drugs may cause increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline. So, do yourself a favor and kick the nasty habit – your body and your brain will thank you. #10 Think Overall Health: Control your Risk Factors Researchers have found that those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, hypertension and other conditions, are more likely to develop cognitive deficits than their healthier counterparts. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet, and controlling stress can help to stave off diseases and protect your brain from their deleterious effects. Get regular check-ups and work with your doctor to control your risk factors. Include a regular objective brain test in your overall wellness plan. Thanks to: Dr Roy Sugarman

Alzheimer’s Disease-

When you think a loved one may have Alzheimer’s disease:

The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms to help you recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation to time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

http://www.alz.org/index.asp