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“I would feel foolish calling an ambulance.”

“I didn’t know driving myself to the ER would delay treatment.”

Don’t be like these people. There is no time for doubt with a heart attack. Calling 911 at the first signs of a heart attack could save your life. Reducing time to medical treatment is the primary factor in surviving a heart attack.

What’s wrong with driving to the ER?

Statistics show that driving to the ER can put your treatment behind by as much as one whole hour. And during a heart episode, minutes count. Here’s what happens: not only do you have the drive time, but then once you get to the ER, they have to run diagnostics on you and identify treatment and, by then, it’s not unusual for an hour to have evaporated while your symptoms escalate and your chances of survival decline.

How would calling 911 be better?

By stopping right where you are and calling 911, you’ve made what can be a lifesaving decision. The EMS team has an open line of communication with the dispatcher that takes your call, and they can start to analyze your condition and give you crucial advice. By the time they arrive, they will have a grasp on your symptoms and condition and can start treating you immediately. They are trained to respond to heart attacks and can begin working on you right away.

Once EMS recognizes the signs of a heart attack, they will notify the Cath Lab and the team will begin preparing for your arrival. Patients are fast-tracked and bypass the ER and are rushed directly to the Cath Lab. Reducing time to medical treatment is the primary factor in surviving a heart attack. Calling 911 is the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

Trust 911. Make the call. Don’t Die of Doubt.

Visit the American Heart Association’s website and learn more. 

Photo credit: American Heart Association

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

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Let’s face it, we all indulge in a little chocolate binge from time-to-time. And we usually experience a sense of guilt after we binge. But, you may be surprised to learn of the new health benefits that have been discovered in your favorite bar of dark chocolaty goodness.  Before you get overly excited, let’s look at the facts:

Antioxidants Pack a Punch

Recent studies have shown that dark chocolate contains something called “flavanol antioxidants.” These flavanols have several proven health benefits. They help with vascular processes and can even lower blood pressure. Antioxidants also have other health benefits such as assisting your body’s ability to process outside contaminants (such as pollution inhaled into the lungs), slowing memory decline, and promoting healthy levels of oxygen in the body’s major systems. These are just some of the benefits that flavanol antioxidants offer.

Heavy Sweetening

However, flavonoids are very bitter, so in most milk chocolates and even low-quality dark chocolates, chemical and sweetening processes are used to mask the bitter flavor of these helpful antioxidants. This proves to be a problem since these chemical and sweetening processes compromise the integrity of the flavanols. Thus, over-processed chocolates may not have the health benefits that you may wish were packed into your favorite indulgence.

What’s the Solution?

Purchasing high-quality dark chocolate gives you a better chance of obtaining all the health benefits that chocolate can offer, without losing that lovely chocolate flavor that we all crave. Studies have shown that eating small amounts of high-quality dark chocolate periodically may lower the risk of heart disease.

So the next time you go to grab your favorite dark chocolate snack, you don’t have to feel guilty. A little dark chocolate a couple times a week can encourage good health and can leave you feeling sweet and satisfied. 


Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

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Do you know someone who has heart disease? Chances are you do. More than 27 million Americans have been diagnosed with the condition. If you don’t want to join them, you can take steps to reduce your personal risk of heart disease.

Eat healthy. A healthy diet includes a variety of grains (especially whole grains), fruits and vegetables. Opt for foods low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugar and salt. Choose fish, poultry and lean cuts of meat, as well as low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Limit the number of egg yolks and cut down on processed cold cuts. When preparing food, broil, bake, roast or poach instead of frying, and tame snack attacks with low-fat options, such as animal crackers, melba toast or fat-free yogurt.

Exercise regularly. As little as 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week is all you need to protect heart health. Don’t like to exercise? No sweat. Good ways to keep your heart healthy include brisk walking, riding a bike, hiking, dancing, swimming, physical tasks around the house, raking leaves, or painting a room. Other ways to work exercise into your day include taking the stairs when possible, or parking farther away from the office and then walking the added distance.

Don’t smoke. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is “the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States.” The risk of having a heart attack is six times higher for smokers compared to nonsmokers, with the chances increasing depending on the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Quitting smoking lowers the risk of heart disease immediately — and just one year of not smoking can cut heart disease risk in half.

Maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight can be calculated by looking at either body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. BMI, a calculation based on height and weight, of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and 30 or higher is obese. A waist measurement of more than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and other serious health conditions. A weight loss of just five to 10 percent of current weight can help lower the risk for heart disease. Gradual weight loss of one-half to two pounds per week is recommended to ensure long-term success.

In addition to making lifestyle changes, you also should have blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis. Hypertension of 140/90 mmHg or higher is a major risk factor for heart disease that usually doesn’t cause symptoms. Total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL and above is an indication of too much cholesterol that can eventually accumulate on artery walls, making them narrow and impeding blood flow to the heart. It is important to remember that, regardless of your age or current state of health, it’s never too late to take steps to protect your heart. For more information about heart health, talk with your doctor or call 866-764-3627 for a free referral to a cardiologist near you.

Photo credit: iCreatas/Thinkstock


Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com