2 mm

Just as I was getting ready to head out of the hospital to start my weekend, we got a page that one of our patients was suffering from a massive heart attack. The patient was quickly decompensating and had to get shocked back into a normal rhythm on his ride over to the hospital. We ran down to the emergency room, where the paramedics were pushing meds and stabilizing him just briefly before rushing him up to the cath lab. On the way back upstairs, we looked at his EKG which had massive ST elevations (the tombstone appearance we read about). They quickly prepped him for a PCI which demonstrated a massive occlusion to his main coronary artery. My preceptor showed me a 2 mm piece of plaque that had thombosed to cause the occlusion. I hope you can appreciate just how tiny that is! I was certainly taken aback at the realization that something that tiny was the culprit, the cause of this man’s potential demise. It was a pretty neat way to start the weekend, having seen the power of medicine save a life. It reminded me of why I love medicine, making all of these hours spent studying and working somehow seem so incredibly worth it.

Hopefully reading about this experience will provide some inspiration to promote a better lifestyle in areas you yourself may struggle with. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more frequently, or giving up cigarettes, I pray that you will remember this story and the very real consequences that unhealthy behavior can ultimately have. Please read these warning signs, provided by the American Heart Association.

Heart Attack Warning Signs:

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But 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.

Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.

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. EMS staff are also 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.
If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.