Protecting Yourself from a Heart Attack in Central California

The thought of having a heart attack can be very unsettling. You may think heart attack symptoms come on suddenly, but they can occur gradually as well.

Signs of this serious cardiovascular condition can include cold sweats, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort.

Call 911 or get emergency care if you or a loved one has heart attack.

Dignity Health Central California’s hospitals specialize in heart attack treatment with humankindness:

 

Learn the Signs of Heart Attack at Dignity Health Central California

Every 43 seconds a heart attack occurs in the US. If you have a blockage that interrupts blood flow to your heart, you could be at risk for a heart attack. Permanent heart damage can result from this very serious cardiovascular condition.

Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following heart attack symptoms:

  • Cold sweats
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Fullness, burning, squeezing, or pressure in your chest
  • Chest discomfort that spreads to your arms, back, shoulders, jaw, or abdomen

Heart attack symptoms in women include nausea or fatigue that occurs with chest pain. If you don’t feel quite right, get immediate care. Early treatment protects your heart from damage and can save your life.

To learn if you are at risk for heart attack, take our heart health assessment. At Dignity Health Central California, our heart team wants to help prevent you from having a heart attack and can offer strategies for your overall health and well-being.

 

Preventive Treatment for Heart Attack Causes

Your heart needs oxygen and nutrients to keep it healthy. If your heart lacks these basic elements, your heart muscle can start to die and put you at risk for a heart attack.

Heart attack can occur from several conditions, including:

  • Spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a sudden tear in your coronary artery where blood becomes trapped and blocks blood flow to your heart
  • Coronary artery spasm, which narrows your artery, slowing or blocking blood flow
  • Plaque buildup and blood clots in the coronary arteries, the most common causes of a heart attack

Your doctor may order a chest X-ray, blood tests, electrocardiogram, coronary angiography, and echocardiogram to help identify heart attack causes and diagnose your heart condition. Dignity Health Central California heart doctors will create a personalized treatment plan and provide care with humankindness.

Find a Doctor who specializes in cardiovascular services and who provides quality heart care with a philosophy of dignity and respect.

Experts at Dignity Health Central California provide life-saving treatments for heart attacks in Bakersfield, and Stockton, CA.