“Don’t worry, it surprised me too!” confides Matt Jones, patient and part-time volunteer CPR instructor for Carle BroMenn Medical Center. “Until that day, when I closed my eyes and thought about what a typical person looks like that has a heart attack, I pictured someone in their late 60’s, obese, with a cheeseburger in one hand and a 72 oz. soda in the other – not me. I think that’s what many people picture.”
But it was Jones who had a heart attack. While other people were enjoying the start of the 2018 Memorial Day weekend, Jones found himself at Carle BroMenn Medical Center after having been in partial denial about the significance of the shortness of breath and recurrent sharp chest pains he was experiencing for more than one week.
Since his cardiac event, Jones uses his personal story to challenge preconceived thoughts about whose life one of his training attendees could be saving by learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). “I want people to realize when they are learning CPR that it might be for someone like me,” Jones explains. “I was 41 years old, working full time, volunteering with my local County EMA leading search and rescue efforts, plus on a rural Fire EMS department and dipping my toes into law enforcement. I was active, watched what I ate, and had a healthy lifestyle.”
What people couldn’t know by looking at Jones is his family history. “Statistically, we still see the greatest prevalence of first time heart attacks starting at around 65 years of age for men and 72 years of age for females,” Robert Braastad, MD, cardiology at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, says. “But, as Matt’s case shows, heart attacks can happen at any age for a variety of reasons beyond visible risks.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke are:
This is why he believes, the more people who get trained in CPR the better.
“Administering CPR can help save the life of someone experiencing a cardiac emergency,” says Dr. Braastad. “Preventing cardiac emergencies from happening in the first place is even better.”
According to the American Heart Association, lifestyle plays a big role in developing heart disease. Some risks for heart attack and heart disease are out of individual control, like Jones’ family history of high, bad cholesterol, but others risks are modifiable.
Take these tangible steps to reduce the risk of heart disease:
As he reflects on his heart attack, Jones considers himself very lucky. His left anterior descending artery (LAD), the widow-maker, was 99% blocked. Dr. Braastad was successfully in reopening the artery with a stent. Knowing how close he had gotten to what would have been a massive heart attacked is humbling.
“As people leave my CPR training class,” says Jones, “I leave them with this.
“If I happen to go down on the way out of here and you choose to do something, thank you. You don’t have to. You can keep walking by. But, if you or someone else doesn’t jump in to start CPR, you probably know what the outcome is going to be.
“So, if you just get down and you try. And you do the best you can -- get to the middle of the chest, push hard, push fast, and call 911. You’re going to extend my chances until the medics arrive.”
That’s the value of CPR.
Anyone interested in learning how to save a life through CPR training can find more information on the Carle website. The next First Aid, CPR/AED training class is Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Carle Health & Fitness Center in Bloomington, IL.
But it was Jones who had a heart attack. While other people were enjoying the start of the 2018 Memorial Day weekend, Jones found himself at Carle BroMenn Medical Center after having been in partial denial about the significance of the shortness of breath and recurrent sharp chest pains he was experiencing for more than one week.
Since his cardiac event, Jones uses his personal story to challenge preconceived thoughts about whose life one of his training attendees could be saving by learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). “I want people to realize when they are learning CPR that it might be for someone like me,” Jones explains. “I was 41 years old, working full time, volunteering with my local County EMA leading search and rescue efforts, plus on a rural Fire EMS department and dipping my toes into law enforcement. I was active, watched what I ate, and had a healthy lifestyle.”
What people couldn’t know by looking at Jones is his family history. “Statistically, we still see the greatest prevalence of first time heart attacks starting at around 65 years of age for men and 72 years of age for females,” Robert Braastad, MD, cardiology at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, says. “But, as Matt’s case shows, heart attacks can happen at any age for a variety of reasons beyond visible risks.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke are:
- High blood pressure
- High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure
- Obesity
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
This is why he believes, the more people who get trained in CPR the better.
“Administering CPR can help save the life of someone experiencing a cardiac emergency,” says Dr. Braastad. “Preventing cardiac emergencies from happening in the first place is even better.”
According to the American Heart Association, lifestyle plays a big role in developing heart disease. Some risks for heart attack and heart disease are out of individual control, like Jones’ family history of high, bad cholesterol, but others risks are modifiable.
Take these tangible steps to reduce the risk of heart disease:
- Stop smoking.
- Choose good nutrition, opting for a diet high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
- Avoid foods high in saturated fat and trans-fat.
- Get moving, sit less and move more every day.
- Reduce salt intake and read the labels for salt levels.
- Aim for a healthy weight.
- Limit alcohol.
- Manage diabetes.
- Good good sleep and manage stress levels.
As he reflects on his heart attack, Jones considers himself very lucky. His left anterior descending artery (LAD), the widow-maker, was 99% blocked. Dr. Braastad was successfully in reopening the artery with a stent. Knowing how close he had gotten to what would have been a massive heart attacked is humbling.
“As people leave my CPR training class,” says Jones, “I leave them with this.
“If I happen to go down on the way out of here and you choose to do something, thank you. You don’t have to. You can keep walking by. But, if you or someone else doesn’t jump in to start CPR, you probably know what the outcome is going to be.
“So, if you just get down and you try. And you do the best you can -- get to the middle of the chest, push hard, push fast, and call 911. You’re going to extend my chances until the medics arrive.”
That’s the value of CPR.
Anyone interested in learning how to save a life through CPR training can find more information on the Carle website. The next First Aid, CPR/AED training class is Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Carle Health & Fitness Center in Bloomington, IL.
Categories: Staying Healthy
Tags: Cardiology, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, CPR, Heart Attack,