February is National Heart Month, and American Medical Response (AMR) is providing tips to help you know the risks and signs of a heart attack and what to do if you witness these signs.
“Heart attacks can be sudden, but most start slowly with mild pain and discomfort,” stated John Robben, AMR Regional Director for Western Michigan. “Often, people who are having a heart attack aren’t sure what’s wrong and therefore delay seeking help.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Warning signs of a heart attack
Robben says to look out for these signs of a heart attack:
Chest Pain–Most heart attacks cause discomfort or pain in the center of the chest that can last for several minutes. The pain may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in Other Areas of the Upper Body– This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of Breath– May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs –Other symptoms might include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Warning Signs can be Different for Women – The most common symptom for both women and men is chest discomfort, but one can have a heart attack and not experience chest pain or pressure. Women are more likely to have symptoms such as back pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath, indigestion and nausea or vomiting.
(Courtesy, American Medical Response)
What to do
If you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Calling 911 is the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services can begin treatment when they arrive. EMTs and paramedics are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped.
If a person’s heart stops before the ambulance arrives, you should begin CPR and send someone to find an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Be Prepared: It only takes a few minutes to learn compression-only CPR. Call Guardian Flight to find out where you can learn this life-saving skill.
For more information on heart attacks, visit heart.org.
Respiratory viruses are on the rise in Michigan and in Kent County.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors flu activity across the U.S. and now categorizes Michigan’s flu activity level as high. Local hospitals are seeing an increase in upper respiratory illnesses including influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID.
(Courtesy, Kent County Health Department)
The rise in the three illnesses has many of us feeling the symptoms which may include runny nose, congestion, and coughing. But how can you tell if what you have is a common cold or something more severe?
COVID has changed
For people who are up to date on vaccination the symptoms are much less severe and can easily be confused with a cold. At first, one of the telltale signs of COVID was the loss of taste and smell. Health officials say that isn’t happening as much anymore because of the level of immunity people have acquired from having the illness, getting vaccinated, or both.
If it is COVID, you may have stomach issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The flu and RSV do not usually have these symptoms. If you are having gastrointestinal issues with your other symptoms, you should consider a COVID test.
Symptoms for respiratory illnesses can vary (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
RSV symptoms
RSV can be fairly mild, but for people over 65 and children the illness can become very severe. Medical professionals say RSV patients will typically have wheezing or symptoms that look like asthma flare ups. RSV symptoms usually in stages over the course of 4 to 6 days.
Flu symptoms
The flu generally comes all at once. Sudden onset of symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, body aches and a sore throat can seem to strike out of the blue. COVID, colds and RSV do not do behave that way, instead a person may have new symptoms for several days when they have become infected with those illnesses.
This chart can help you interpret your symptoms:
Respiratory Illness Symptoms (Courtesy, KCHD)
I have some of these symptoms, now what?
When you are feeling symptoms, medical professionals say that getting tested for COVID should be the first thing on the list. If that is negative, it is wise to get a flu test. After a positive flu test, you may be prescribed antiviral drugs like Tamiflu that can dramatically shorten the number of days you suffer.
When to seek medical attention
You should seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing severe flu symptoms like difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, seizures or severe weakness or muscle pain.
Vaccine resources
Fortunately vaccines exist for COVID, RSV and influenza and there is still time to protect yourself if you have not received yours yet. Other simple steps you can take to protect yourself and others include staying home if you are sick and washing your hands correctly and often.
Call KCHD today to make your vaccine appointment at 616-632-7200.
Quitting smoking can be challenging, but you can find support for your quit journey where and when you need it, to raise your chances of quitting for good.
“I’m sick of this addiction.” Clay A. left that comment on the CDC Tobacco Free Facebook page. “I quit for a year and four months and came back,” he went on to say. “Quitting is not easy.”
CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) knows that it may take a number of tries before you’re able to quit for good, but we also know that it can be done. In fact, so many people have quit that there are now more former smokers than current smokers in the United States. Quitting can be challenging, but you can find support for your quit journey where and when you need it, to raise your chances of quitting for good. This year, make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking for good.
“At this time of year, we know that many smokers make a resolution to quit and start off on a healthier course,” says Corinne Graffunder, DrPH, MPH, director of OSH. “If now is your time to quit tobacco, there are many tools available to help you find and follow a quit strategy that works for you.”
Whether you’ve never tried to quit or have tried many times, a new year means another chance to create your successful quit plan.
Never too early to quit
No matter how long you’ve smoked, there are health benefits to quitting. James, a participant in the Tips From Former Smokers® campaign and a smoker for 30 years, started having some trouble doing everyday tasks. He also learned he had diabetes. So James decided he needed a healthier lifestyle. He put down cigarettes and started exercising. Quitting smoking gave him the energy to bike, run, and swim—things he couldn’t imagine doing before.
James said he wanted to send a message to people who think smoking won’t harm them because they haven’t had a major smoking-related illness. “I want to help people like me quit smoking,” he said. “Maybe nothing really bad has happened to you yet. Maybe you’re lucky, but you’re probably not going to stay lucky.”Still a Leading Cause of Death
Even though adult smoking rates are at an all-time low, cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the country, with 480,000 people dying every year.
Smoking is linked to many dangerous diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, emphysema, and cancer. Smoking around others hurts their health, too. Breathing secondhand smoke can cause many of the same illnesses as smoking does. It can make children get sick more often, and smoking while pregnant raises the risk of a baby dying suddenly in the first year of life. No amount of secondhand smoke is risk-free.Find What Works for You
Every smoker’s quit journey is different. It may take some time to find the strategies that help you stay quit. It helps to create a personalized quit planexternal icon. Some of the steps in an effective quit plan include:
Picking a quit date. Choose a date only a week or two away and highlight that day in your calendar or phone.
Telling loved ones and friends that you’re quitting. Let them know how they can help you quit.
Listing reasons to quit.
Getting rid of cigarettes and anything that reminds you of smoking.
Picking out feelings, places, and situations that make you want to smoke. It’s easier to avoid them if you’ve identified them!
Having healthy strategies to fight cravings.
Build your strategies
Smokers crave cigarettes because they contain a drug called nicotine, and smoking makes your body dependent on nicotine. Stopping smoking causes nicotine withdrawal, which can be uncomfortable, especially in the first weeks. There are ways to get through withdrawal—these can include support from family or a counselor, as well as medication that helps ease cravings.
Courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It may take many tries to quit. The important thing is not to give up. Health care providers, such as doctors and nurses, can be good supporters in your quit journey. Your doctor may recommend some of the medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help people quit smoking. These may include nicotine replacement therapy medicines, which are patches, gums, or lozenges that give the body a small amount of nicotine to ease cravings without the other harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. Pharmacists can let you know about the effects of any medicine your doctor prescribes.It’s Not Too Late
Whether you smoked for decades, like James, or only just started, whether you have a smoking-related illness or haven’t felt the damage from smoking yet, quitting right now can put you on the road to better health.
Says former smoker Dean G.: “Can’t wait to see my health continue to improve. Quitting is the best decision I ever made.”
Help is out there: Use it!
There are many free resources to help you quit—no matter where you are in your quit journey.
Quitlines.1-800-QUIT-NOWexternal icon(1-800-784-8669) and 1-855-DÉJELO-YAexternal icon (1-855-335-3569) (for Spanish speakers) both offer resources like coaching, help with making a quit plan, and information about smoking and can even refer you to more resources in your area. There are also Asian-language quitlines:external icon 1-800-838-8917(Chinese), 1-800-556-5564 (Korean), and 1-800-778-844 (Vietnamese).
Text Support.Smokefree TXTexternal icon is a free, 24/7 program that sends coaching and encouragement by text messages to help you keep your commitment to staying smoke-free.
Smartphone App. The smoke-free app for your phone called quitSTARTexternal icon helps you understand your smoking patterns and build skills so you don’t give in to cravings.
