Earlier

Earlier this year, Paducahan Eva Wright followed a hunch to check what she thought was indigestion prior to a routine colonoscopy. Her “hunch” turned out to be life-saving. Wright’s primary care physician Ronald Wilson, M.D., ordered an EKG to rule out any heart issues, but the results showed otherwise.

Something was wrong with Wright’s heart. She immediately went to the Baptist Heart Center where an emergency catheterization revealed multiple, severe blockages to the arteries leading to her heart. Heart and chest surgeon Carl Johnson, M.D., then performed an emergency coronary artery bypass operation to correct the problem.

“I expected Dr. Wilson to tell me I just had heartburn,” said Wright. “I had no prior heart problems and never imagined something could be so wrong with my heart.”

Wright was fortunate. Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. Her symptoms were subtle. She felt tired, had occasional chest pain and shortness of breath. Other symptoms, Dr. Johnson said, are more obvious and may include:

• Pressure or crushing pain in the center of the chest  that may radiate down the left arm or into the jaw area
• Sweating
• Nausea

Dr. Johnson said these factors increase a person’s risk for heart disease:

• Smoking. The longer you’ve smoked, the greater your risk.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure damages blood vessels in the body, increasing your chances of developing heart disease.
• Atherosclerosis. The buildup of fat damages the lining of blood vessels, increasing the development of heart disease.
• Gender. Men are more likely than women to have heart disease.
• Race. African-Americans are at an increased risk for heart disease.
• Family history. People with a family history of heart disease also are at an increased risk for developing the disease.

“If you’re at risk, see your doctor immediately,” said Dr. Johnson. “The earlier heart disease is discovered, the more treatable it is. If you think you may be feeling symptoms of a heart attack, don’t dismiss it as an everyday ache or pain; have it checked. Your prompt attention could save your life.”

Learn more about heart disease at westernbaptist.com/heart or phone Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.