Recognition of acute myocardial infarction symptoms before admittance to hospital

    Authors

    Keywords

    patient, acute myocardial infarction symptoms, education

    DOI

    https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.476

    Full Text

    Despite the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, cardiovascular mortality is still high. According to available data in population register, mortality of patients treated for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is 30%, out of which in half of the patient, the death occurs before they reach a hospital. ( 1 , 2 ) Most of the patients do not recognize or misinterpreted symptoms of AMI, and therefor delays asking medical assistance. Other chronic diseases could influence a perception and recognizing patient’s symptoms. Time between the occurrence of first symptoms to the decision on seeking medical assistance is shorter in patient who had AMI before and their family members and friends. Most common symptoms are chest pain, palpitation, shortness of breath, usually after physical activity, sleeping or resting. Most of the patients do not ask for medical assistance, but they apply self-care techniques: they are showering, massaging painful spot, taking medications, or resting while waiting for spontaneous symptoms relief. Patients who decide to seek help are usually referred to emergency hospital admissions, general practitioners or during a pre-scheduled check-up. Some of them are urged to hospital in emergency vehicles, some with their own car, or public transport. The time from the onset of the first symptoms to the doctor’s arrival may take less than one hour up to several days. Time period is an important factor in prognosis and outcome of patients treated for AMI. Since patients are not recognizing most common symptoms of AMI and they are distracted by different pain relief methods, additional education of general population is necessary for prevention of deaths and reduction of mortality from AMI.

    Cardiologia Croatica
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    Recognition of acute myocardial infarction symptoms before admittance to hospital

    Extended Abstract
    Issue11-12
    Published
    Pages476
    PDF via DOIhttps://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.476
    patient
    acute myocardial infarction symptoms
    education

    Authors

    Nevenka Vila*ORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
    Brankica JuranićORCIDUniversity Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

    Full Text

    Despite the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, cardiovascular mortality is still high. According to available data in population register, mortality of patients treated for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is 30%, out of which in half of the patient, the death occurs before they reach a hospital. ( 1 , 2 ) Most of the patients do not recognize or misinterpreted symptoms of AMI, and therefor delays asking medical assistance. Other chronic diseases could influence a perception and recognizing patient’s symptoms. Time between the occurrence of first symptoms to the decision on seeking medical assistance is shorter in patient who had AMI before and their family members and friends. Most common symptoms are chest pain, palpitation, shortness of breath, usually after physical activity, sleeping or resting. Most of the patients do not ask for medical assistance, but they apply self-care techniques: they are showering, massaging painful spot, taking medications, or resting while waiting for spontaneous symptoms relief. Patients who decide to seek help are usually referred to emergency hospital admissions, general practitioners or during a pre-scheduled check-up. Some of them are urged to hospital in emergency vehicles, some with their own car, or public transport. The time from the onset of the first symptoms to the doctor’s arrival may take less than one hour up to several days. Time period is an important factor in prognosis and outcome of patients treated for AMI. Since patients are not recognizing most common symptoms of AMI and they are distracted by different pain relief methods, additional education of general population is necessary for prevention of deaths and reduction of mortality from AMI.