Category Archives: Emergency Services at Swedish

How to Recognize Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms

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It It is important to be able to recognize when you or someone near you is having a heart attack—this knowledge can even save a life. Learn how to recognize heart attack symptoms in women by watching this clip.

Women’s heart attack symptoms are a bit more subtle than men’s—the squeezing chest pains that many people expect from a heart attack may not be present. Shortness of breath, jaw pain, back pain, tingling, and flu-like symptoms may be present in women.

Call Denver’s Swedish Medical Center today at (303) 788-5000 to learn more about women’s healthcare. As a Level I Trauma Center, we are highly committed to providing the utmost of care to each and every patient who walks through our hospital doors.

Why All Head Injuries Should Be Checked

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Head injuries, also known as traumatic brain injuries, can be caused by a jolt, blow, or any sudden trauma to the skull. Symptoms of these injuries will often depend on the severity of the initial trauma and can range from mild to severe. Although some injuries to the brain can be considered only ‘mild’, it is vital that all victims of suspected head trauma be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible.

“It is critical to see a trained medical professional to rule out any urgent, life threatening head injuries that may require close monitoring, medications to prevent seizures, or surgical intervention. With advances in technology and imaging techniques, we are now able to gather a better understanding of the nature of each particular head injury allowing us to put forth the most appropriate treatment option. Unlike other medical conditions, it is important to understand that head injuries are cumulative and can significantly change your long term ability to carry out mental and physical activities,” explains Swedish PA-C Tyler Schaefer MMS.

Read on to learn why it is so important that all head injuries be checked by a doctor.

  • To ensure a healthy oxygen supply: If the brain becomes injured, swelling, inflammation, and other problems can occur that may result in reduced oxygen concentrations in the brain. Without oxygen, brain cells can quickly die and cause damage to brain tissue. Seeing a doctor immediately will help to avoid any complications associated with oxygen deprivation.
  • To look for musculoskeletal injuries: A physician may also recommend diagnostic imaging tests such as x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to evaluate the patient for any injuries to the skull, spine, or brain tissue. If there are any such injuries, they can be treated before further complications can arise.
  • To check for the presence of hematomas: Hematomas, or ruptured blood vessels, can lead to dangerous amounts of pressure building up in the brain. Once detected, these abnormalities can safely be removed or repaired.
  • To determine a treatment or therapy plan: Even in cases of mild head injury, patients can experience problems with cognition (thinking), mood swings, and sleeping issues long after the injury was sustained. Meeting with a physician can help the patient and his or her loved ones know what to expect and how to deal with the symptoms as effectively as possible to ensure a quick and healthy recovery process.

The Level 1 Trauma Center at Swedish Medical Center in Denver is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide leading-edge medical care when you and your loved ones need it most. Call our hospital today at (303) 788-5000 to learn more about our comprehensive emergency care services.

Signs that Your Loved One is in Need of Emergency Care

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Medical emergencies can happen at any time and at any place. Although it can be difficult to be truly prepared for such an event, knowing the symptoms of a medical emergency and what to do if one occurs can allow you to help your loved ones get treatment faster. Below are some of the most common signs that your loved one may be in need of emergency medical care from a hospital in Denver.

Chest pain: Chest pain or tightness that lasts more than a few minutes, or that subsides and comes back, can be a sign of a heart attack. Other heart attack warning signs include sweating, shortness of breath, feelings of anxiety and nausea. Without immediate treatment, a heart attack can lead to permanent disability or death.

Weakness on one side of the body: Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the face and body, especially when accompanied by difficulty speaking, visual changes or a severe headache, is a warning sign of stroke. These symptoms indicate that immediate emergency medical care is required.

Severe bleeding: Even when caused by a small cut, severe bleeding can be a problem. Bleeding that does not cease with continued pressure should be treated by medical professionals immediately to avoid dangerous levels of blood loss and shock.

Head trauma: Injuries to the head can lead to dangerous bleeding in the brain tissue or in the membranous layers that protect the brain. Even if a person seems alert after head trauma, medical care is recommended.

“If you are critically ill or injured, the best way to get to the ER is via the EMS system. Because of the ability of EMS personnel to provide advance hospital notification and activate specialty services, such as the cardiac cath lab, patients with heart attacks and strokes who arrive via EMS actually have shorter times to treatment, and in the case of stroke, are more likely to be eligible for treatment. Patients often underestimate serious symptoms. If you or a loved one have symptoms of a possible stroke or heart attack, call 911,” says Dylan Luyten MD FACEP, Swedish EMS Medical Director.

Knowing where to go when a medical emergency occurs can help you get treatment faster when you need it most. When making your emergency plans, consider Swedish Medical Center as your hospital of choice. Our 24-hour emergency services department is designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center and is prepared to treat even the most complicated of medical issues. We are ready to treat patients of all ages and have both adult and pediatric board-certified emergency professionals on staff. Call us today at (303) 788-5000 to learn more about our services.