If you have these symptoms, don’t delay treatment

Heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women, kills about 600,000 Americans every year. While any heart attack can be serious, the widowmaker, caused by a blockage of the most important artery in the heart, is even more deadly. If this artery isn’t cleared fast enough, death ensues.

Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath: with or without chest discomfort.

Some other signs: breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. action of blood platelets. It could have saved her life.

Head to the ER

Doctors believe taking aspirin may have kept comedian Rosie O’donnell alive three years ago when her LAD was blocked, giving doctors time to clear her blockage.

Though Vaccaro understands that first responders can offer the best care to heart-attack victims on the way to the hospital, she chose to have her husband drive her to Summerlin Hospital because they were literally minutes away.

Doctors there quickly treated her, removing blockages and inserting stents.

Today she’s fine, but after what Vaccaro’s been through, she cautions others to eat right, exercise and watch their blood pressure and cholesterol.

Still, Tanbe reminds people that doing all the right things doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have a widow-maker. Plaque can break off and a blockage can occur inside the LAD.

“You have to remember the warning signs and get to the hospital fast.”

Paul Harasim’s column runs Monday in Health. Contact him at pharasim@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Folow @paulharasim on Twitter.