Cardiovascular Consultants of Cleveland

	Frequently Asked Questions
What is a heart attack and its warning signs? A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die. Warning signs: Uncomfortable heavy feeling, pressure, pain or squeezing in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes Pain that goes to your shoulders, neck or arms Discomfort in your chest along with a light head, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath What causes a stroke and are there warning signs? A srtoke or TIA happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets clogged and bursts. Then that part of the brain can not work and neither can the part of the body it controls. Causes are uncontrolled high blood pressure smoking heart disease. Warning Signs: Feel weak in an arm, hand or leg Can not feel one side of face or body Suddenly can not see out of one eye Hard to talk Can´t understand what someone is saying Feel dizzy or lose balance Have a sudden, very bad headache What is a pacemaker? A pacemaker is a small. lightweight, electronic device that is implanted into the body, ready to pace the heart. It is prescribed for people whose hearts are beating too slowly. The pacemaker monitors the heart´s electrical activity and delivers electrical pulses when the heart needs them. If it senses that the heart is beatng to slowly or it is pausing for too long, the pacemaker stimluates that heart with precisely timed electrical pulses which keep the heart beating at the proper pace. What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator? This is a small electronic device that is implanted inside the body. It continously monitors your heartbeat. It senses a dangerous rapid heart rhythm, it delivers one or more pulses or shocks the heart and restores a normal rhythm Coumadin is used to prevent harmful blood clots from forming. The most common side effect associated with Coumadin therapy is bleeding. Watch for the following warning signs or events and call your doctor immediately if you experience: Serious fall or trauma Fever or develpong illness, including vomiting, diarrhea, infection. pain, swelling, discomfort, or other unusual symptoms Prolonged bleeding from cuts or nosebleeds; unusual bleeding from gums when brushing teeth; increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding Red or dark brown urine; red or tarry black stools Unusual bruising Pregnancy If you have any questions, please contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider.