Study Finds Some Chest Pain Patients Wait Longer Than 10 Minutes to Seek Help

Results of a study that examined compliance with national recommendations that a physician screen chest pain patients within 10 minutes of their arrival to the Emergency Department (ED) will be presented by Emory University Rollins School of Public Health researchers at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in Philadelphia on November 10.

Additional public health research findings from Emory scientists are highlighted below.

Chest pain – Causes – Risk Factors – Symptoms – Diagnosis – Treatment
Ask any one who has experienced intense chest pain and they will vouch for the fact that it was the most frightening experience of their life!

Disparities in emergency room waiting times for chest pain patientsThe American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend an electrocardiogram be performed and shown to a physician within 10 minutes of a chest pain patient's arrival to the emergency department (ED). Emory researchers examined disparities in waiting times to see a physician for patients complaining of chest pain.

They found that only 30 percent of all chest pain patients were seen within the recommended 10 minutes. In addition, racial disparities affected all chest pain patients. African Americans were seen by an ED physician later than whites, researchers noted.

Data were extracted from the 2003-2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Cardiac Catheterization | Coronary Angiogram - Indications Preparation Procedure Risks Test FAQs
Cardiac catheterization is a radiological procedure for both diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions. It involves the insertion of a long thin flexible tube called catheter a vein or an artery to the heart.

Untangling the Web: An exploratory look at the impact of parental discipline and primary caregiver support on high-risk taking behaviorAfrican-American females are at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) during adolescence as compared to other ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to test the interaction of familial factors as they relate to adolescent risk-taking behaviors.

Researchers found that caregiver support and discipline was associated with a reduction in adolescents' risk-taking behaviors, including choosing risky sexual partners, having multiple sexual partners, and drinking alcohol.

What is a heart attack / How to prevent heart attacks
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Simple guidelines to avoid heart attack are listed.

Findings were based on sociodemographic, family and self-reported data obtained from 701 African-American adolescent females ages 14 to 20 years old.

Animation of heart attack symptoms
Heart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles

Source-Eurekalert
RAS