Many women don’t know when they’re having a heart attack. Often during cardiac arrest, women experience subtle, flu-like symptoms including nausea and fatigue – different than the debilitating chest pain men often experience. This often leads to misdiagnosis.
Greenville resident Stephanie Brown learned her flu-like symptoms – mixed with extreme breathing episodes – were actually heart attacks (sometimes up to 12 times per day) last Fall after visiting Bon Secours St. Francis Health System (named as one of America’s 100 Best for Cardiac Care). She had a catheterization during her hospitalization and ultimately, a cardiac stent was placed.
Because of the care Brown received at Bon Secours St. Francis, the American Heart Association now has a new local spokesperson for the cause. “If I can just help one woman recognize what these symptoms are and save one life, this would all be well worth it,” Brown said.
Bon Secours St. Francis currently treats heart attacks within an average of 32 minutes from the time the patient arrives at the hospital. The national standard is 90 minutes.
