Part of the reason Melody's heart attack did not create serious problems is that she called 911 at the first sign of trouble, and an emergency team was able to respond to her needs within minutes.

Have you ever wondered how emergency response systems work? Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, often working with police and fire departments. They quickly determine the nature and extent of the patient's condition and ask about other existing medical problems. Following strict rules and guidelines, they give appropriate emergency care and, when necessary, transport the patient. Some paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home.

Half of all people having a heart attack wait more than two hours before getting help, which often leads to greater — and permanent — damage to the heart muscle, or even death. Some believe it would be too embarrassing if it turned out they were having indigestion, rather than a heart attack. Others simply deny the symptoms out of fear.

During a heart attack, a clot blocks blood flow to the heart, and heart muscle begins to die. The more time that passes before treatment is received the greater the risk of life-threatening complications. Clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. Given immediately after symptoms begin, these treatments can prevent or minimize heart damage. The sooner they are started, the greater the chance of a full recovery. To be most effective, treatments should start within one hour of the onset of symptoms.

Heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease." The fact is heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States.

In men, the risk of heart attack increases after age 45.

In women, heart attacks are most likely to occur after menopause, which is usually around age 50.

Besides age, the following factors may put you at increased risk:

• A previous heart attack or angina
• Family history of early heart disease
  • Father or brother diagnosed before age 55
  • Mother or sister diagnosed before age 65
• Overweight and obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking

If you have one or more of these factors — or if you don't know, for example, what your cholesterol or blood pressure is — it's time for a checkup. Your health care professional can help you understand how to reduce your risk for heart attack.

Since Melody's heart attack, she has decided to make some serious lifestyle changes. Knowing that her weight was a contributing factor to her health, she decided to join a health club and shed some of those extra pounds. Today, she's at a healthy weight and no longer overly concerned about having another heart attack. As Melody now knows, taking warning signs to heart can prove to be a lifesaver.

Facts about Heart Disease and Stroke

• Much of the burden of heart disease and stroke could be lifted by reducing major risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, tobacco use, inactivity, and poor nutrition.
• Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for about 40 percent of all deaths.
• About 61 million Americans (or around one-fourth of the population) have some form of cardiovascular disease, accounting for nearly six million hospitalizations each year.
• Around 10 million Americans are disabled due to stroke and heart disease.
• A recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that the cost of heart disease and stroke in the United States is about $351 billion ($209 billion for health care expenses; $142 billion for lost productivity from death and disability).

Additional Resources:

As part of your UPS-sponsored health plan benefits, UPSer’s and their spouses covered by the medical benefits plan can take a health assessment that offers an in-depth assessment of your lifestyle and factors that impact your health status. This will give you an opportunity to see your health in a big picture. Doing so can help you prioritize the kinds of health changes you may need to consider, and which health changes you may be ready and confident to make.

Click here for more information on the Health Assessment.

Sources: American Heart Association, 2004; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003; U.S. Department of Labor, 2004