"Just a Little Heart Attack"

February 6, 2015 8:28 AM

To commemorate American Heart Month, The American Heart Association and Go Red for Women present, "Just a Little Heart Attack" starring Elizabeth Banks. Know the Warning Signs.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI (12 comments total)

Somebody please tell me I'm not the only one who will forever read it as "heart attack-ack-ack-ack."

Anyone?
posted by nevercalm at 8:46 AM on February 6, 2015 [3 favorites]

You know, I was going to respond to nevercalm with a joke, but I went and posted the video on Facebook instead.
posted by zennie at 9:35 AM on February 6, 2015

You oughta know by now, nevercalm.
posted by dr_dank at 9:41 AM on February 6, 2015 [7 favorites]

I hope the American Heart Association realizes that the problem with heart attacks isn’t lack of awareness of the symptoms, but rather the fact that the symptoms are so broad and vague.

I mean, “pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach”? I’m 32 years old and I could convince myself I was having a heart attack five times per week. I’d be on a first-name basis with all my local 911 dispatchers. They wouldn’t even bother to disguise their sigh as they picked up the phone.
posted by savetheclocktower at 10:07 AM on February 6, 2015 [8 favorites]

Somebody please tell me I'm not the only one who will forever read it as "heart attack-ack-ack-ack."

I'm sure you can find some of your cohort in this thread
posted by mcstayinskool at 10:08 AM on February 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

I was hospitalized a few weeks ago with fairly severe chest pain that turned out thankfully not to be a heart attack (final, but questionable diagnosis was Pericarditis).

I had chest pains most of the evening before deciding to go to the ER though, which was truly a stupid mistake that I will not repeat. It was my first trip to an ER or hospital (for myself) in > 30 years, and I somehow had it in my head that I'm not someone that uses those facilities. STUPID.

If you have severe chest pains, go to the ER.

Catching one early can be life-saving, or be the difference between continuing to live a fairly normal life or living a very restrictive one.
posted by mcstayinskool at 10:15 AM on February 6, 2015

I should add that I was also scolded by my GP when I saw here the following week, correctly, for not only delaying my trip to the ER, but not calling 911 like a sane person should have done.
posted by mcstayinskool at 10:20 AM on February 6, 2015

I'm always amazed that people assume breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women--pink-washing, for good or ill, is effective. Of course, it's not the only situation where there is a gap between donations and fatalities for many diseases.
posted by MrGuilt at 11:07 AM on February 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

I posted this on my wife's FB page but she is such a hypochondriac that I fear her reaction will be the same as savetheclocktower's. Nonetheless, better to be safe than sorry. Thanks for this post.
posted by Ber at 11:11 AM on February 6, 2015

I went to the ER with what turned out to be costochondritis, but when I called the consulting nurse with the whole chest pain/shortness of breath rigamarole, and given that Dad died of a heart attack at 45, the nurse was OMG GO TO THE ER NOW DON'T DRIVE YOURSELF DO NOT PASS GO DO NOT COLLECT $200.

I was both relieved and mortified to discover that I'd sprained my chest trying to keep up with a friend biking uphill. :\
posted by epersonae at 11:43 AM on February 6, 2015

That husband is a BASTARD... she is doing all the work and he gets handed a coffee and then gets to walk out? I'd kick him in the nuts
posted by greenhornet at 12:25 PM on February 6, 2015

I went to the ER with what turned out to be costochondritis

Buying your itises in bulk is a major cost savings.
posted by dr_dank at 5:28 PM on February 6, 2015 [3 favorites]