Newborns at the Oswego Health Maternity Center are wearing red hats in February, all for a good cause.
Throughout the month, Oswego Health supports activities that bring awareness to heart disease, which is not only the No. 1 killer of women, but also the No. 1 killer of congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the United States.
To support awareness, the Maternity Center is taking part in the American Heart Association’s #LittleHatsBigHearts program. Maternity staff members will hand out red hats to all newborns, while Mom will receive important information on heart disease
Maternity Center staff members showing off a several newborns and their red hats, from left are Amanda Carswell, Kimberly Spurling, RN, Oswego Health Maternity Center Director; and Kristen Fox, RN.
Just as Oswego Health wants its newborns and new moms to be heart healthy, it’s important that area women know the different signs they may experience, signing a potential heart attack.
Heart Attack Signs in Women
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light headedness
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. If you have any to these signs. Don’t wait more than five minutes before call for help
- Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately