Hartsville resident encourages others to take charge of their health
Lou Ann Dayton of Hartsville believed she had been suffering from heartburn before retiring for the evening. She was propped up in bed trying to sleep, when she felt pain travel across her chest, down both arms to her elbows. Her husband Rick brought her to the Carolina Pines Emergency Department. Lou Ann was quickly transferred to McLeod Regional Medical Center for an emergency heart catheterization. What Lou Ann believed to be a simple case of heartburn turned out to be a heart attack.
At McLeod, her heart catheterization was performed by McLeod Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Alan Blaker. Dr. Blaker found a 70 percent blockage in one of Lou Ann’s heart arteries and placed a stent, a tiny wire mesh tube to help keep the artery from closing back up.
Many of Lou Ann’s friends were surprised to learn she had a heart attack as she has always been so health conscious. Just prior to her heart attack in April 2016, she and her husband were on vacation hiking the mountains of Virginia. Lou Ann prepared for the trip by walking three to five miles a day.
“I stunned many people,” said Lou Ann. “I have always watched my weight, enjoyed exercising and staying in shape. I never thought I would be a candidate for a heart attack.”
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Yet only one in five American women believe that heart disease is their greatest health threat. Women are less likely to call 9-1-1 when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack themselves. Many won’t call 9-1-1- because it simply doesn’t occur to them to do so, or they don’t believe their symptoms are heart related. The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women versus men and are often misunderstood.
According to the American Heart Association, a woman dies of cardiovascular disease every 80 seconds, and one in three women is living with some form of cardiovascular disease. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be preventable with education and action. Education means understanding the numbers that affect heart health, which are: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). Action means encouraging women to make simple healthy lifestyle changes like eating better and getting active.
“A healthy lifestyle is the key to reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Blaker. “It is important to know the numbers that affect your heart health but also be sure and talk to your doctor about proper treatment if any of those numbers are putting your health at risk for a heart attack or stroke.”
“Be sure and listen to what your body is telling you and seek medical attention right away if you experience pains that could be heart related,” said Lou Ann. “Now I’m even more careful about my diet by reading food labels and tracking my sodium intake. I am thankful I wasn’t on the mountain when I experienced my heart attack and was close to expert medical care when I needed it.”
Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack
• Pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in the center of the chest, spreading to the neck, shoulder or jaw
• Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
• Upper abdominal pressure or discomfort
• Unusual weakness or fatigue
• Unusual shortness of breath
• Dizziness
