Former president Bill Clinton was released Friday morning from a New York hospital, where he stayed overnight after doctors inserted two stents into a clogged coronary artery after he complained of chest pains. The one-hour procedure went smoothly, according to his cardiologist. Clinton, 63, was released from New York Presbyterian Hospital's campus at Columbia University early Friday morning "in excellent health" and will soon return to his work on Haiti's relief and long-term recovery, his office said.
(SOURCE: The Washington Post)
"President Clinton's signs of chest discomfort caused him to become concerned," said Bobby V. Khan, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. "Fortunately, he took this concern seriously and subsequent cardiac testing revealed two significantly blocked coronary arteries, either of which (had the blockage progressed) could have resulted in a heart attack or possibly much worse. It is important to take signs of chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or a decrease in your overall physical capacity seriously. Early detection saves lives."
NOTE TO MEDIA: Dr. Khan is Director of the Atlanta Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Clinical Associate Professor at Emory University in Atlanta. To speak with Dr. Khan or for other expert commentary, contact Carissa O'Brien at 978-875-2020 or carissa.obrien [at] sca-aware.org.
What you should know about chest discomfort
Chest discomfort can be a symptom of an impending heart attack. 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.
Some heart attack victims experience mild intermittent chest discomfort that comes and goes over a period of days. These are early “warning signs” that may precede a heart attack. Some victims, however, do not experience any warning signs.
Chest discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or fullness. It can evolve into crushing pain if nothing is done.
Other symptoms of heart attack include:
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, spreading to the shoulder, upper back, neck or jaw
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea, sweating, lightheadedness
- A general sense of anxiety
- A tendency to deny that anything serious is happening.
It’s important to act right away if these symptoms occur to maximize the odds of survival and minimize potential permanent damage to the heart.
What to do:
- Call 9-1-1 immediately
- Have the person rest or lie down while waiting for EMS
What not to do:
- Refrain from driving the person experiencing symptoms of heart attack to the hospital. The only rare exception might be when the hospital is very close by and you expect EMS to be delayed significantly in getting an ambulance to the scene.
- Never drive yourself to the hospital if you are experiencing heart attack symptoms.
- Do not delay more than five minutes from the onset of symptoms to call 9-1-1.
- Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 because you are embarrassed or don’t want to bother anyone. EMS is there for you. And, it is better to be safe than sorry.
For more information: http://www.sca-aware.org/blog/scafoundation/sca-and-heart-attack-understanding-the-difference