Living Healthy
Earliest Signs & Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Patients complaining of chest discomfort, nausea, sweating, or jaw pain may be experiencing the early signs of a heart attack will benefit from our technology. Using a rapid point of care test using prognostic protein helps the physician select people who may benefit from immediate lifesaving clinical care. XCellCure aims to commercialize this novel device and prognostic markers in the U.S., Europe and rest of the world.
Having our rapid, point of care test on the ambulance, in the emergency room, or in your home allows patients and their family members to rapidly respond to the earliest warning signs. Today conventional emergency room diagnostic measures are only able to identify a person who has been having a heart attack for at least 4 hours. At this time heart tissue damage has occurred. Dead heart tissue, or in the infarcted region of the heart does not always heal. Our innovative test transforms the ability to intervene with solutions to avert the death of cardiac tissue.
Using the multiple protein detection device allows patients at risk for a heart attack and their physicians are able to recognize the early processes that lead to a major heart attack. Improved therapy may be recommended that saves lives and reduces the death of heart tissue, reducing the patient’s risk of heart failure. The portable detection device measures indicators in the patient’s blood that are released in the earliest phases of a fatal heart event. Studies have shown that patients with the highest levels of the proteins in their blood had more than a 7 times increase in the risk of having a fatal event over the next 24 to 72 hours and up to 200 days. This allows a cardiologist to be apprised of your condition and use established treatment to help to prevent the fatal heart attack.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, however 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 signal 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 with 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, a woman's most common heart attack symptoms may include chest pain or discomfort. Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other less commonly described symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain. Learn about the warning signs of heart attack in women.
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 or your emergency response number.
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. Emergency medical 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. Further information may be found in the American Heart Association website.