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WAGGA RESIDENT FEELS HEART PAIN IN ELBOW

A Wagga Wagga woman is now safe after a pain in the front of her elbow the only early warning sign that she was living with heart disease.

Fauvette Amos said she was surprised to discover she had been experiencing heart disease when it was first diagnosed in 1995, and she then had angioplasty to clear
the blockage.

Ms Amos said: “I kept experiencing intense pain in my left elbow whenever I walked uphill.” “When the pain continued I realised something was wrong and luckily got treatment in time to prevent any heart damage.

“My blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar levels are all normal but heart disease is in the family and in my case there was a blockage that needed treatment,” she said.

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Cardiovascular Care Coordinator Joanne Leonard said she is now safer than a lot of people who might not recognise the warning signs of a heart attack.

“Fauvette was diagnosed with heart disease before having a heart attack. Her unique pain indicated she was experiencing angina and at high risk but luckily it was discovered before a clot formed and she has since received four coronary artery stents,” Ms Leonard said.

“Pain in the chest is present in less than half of people during a heart attack. Everyone needs to know the warning signs to make sure they get early treatment,” she added.

Anyone who experiences the following symptoms lasting more than 10 minutes needs to phone triple zero immediately:

· pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in the chest, neck, jaw, arms, back or shoulder or

· cold sweat, dizziness, shortness of breath nausea or extreme fatigue

Ms Leonard said people should call for an ambulance immediately if they think they are experiencing a heart attack. “If it’s a false alarm that is the best thing that can happen,” she added.

Ms Leonard will be at the Wagga Wagga Marketplace on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 May 12:30pm -3pm sharing information on the warning signs of a heart attack.