When you’re celebrating the holidays with family, friends, feasting, and fun…are you also battling stress? Medical professionals have noticed a sharp uptick in incidents of heart attack and stroke every November, December, and January. We asked Dr. Shannon Orsak of St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms for the best ways to protect yourself and your family from holiday stress. He says, “In addition to eating and drinking in moderation (not to excess), maintaining your exercise routine, and getting enough sleep, the most important thing you can do is to know the symptoms for heart attack and stroke. We have many effective treatments…but they all depend on seeking prompt medical attention.”
When you feel shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea, how do you know whether you are having a panic attack, feeling indigestion from too much feasting, or suffering from something more serious? Dr. Orsak says, “Heart attack may be signaled by minor chest discomfort that comes and goes with symptoms more like an upset stomach or anxiety…or with excruciating pain. If you even suspect you or a loved one is having a heart attack, come to St. Michael’s immediately. We have our own X-ray, Ultrasound and CT, and on-site diagnostic lab, and agreements with the best nearby hospitals and specialists to get you priority care…without a wait!”
Let’s put our holiday schedules into perspective. Roasting the Thanksgiving turkey, hosting a Cookie Exchange, and finding the perfect item for everyone on your list are enjoyable…and optional. Getting medical help for yourself or a loved one suffering a stroke is a real emergency! Dr. Orsak says, “Be alert to common symptoms of stroke such as numbness or weakness in your face, arms, or legs, confusion and trouble speaking, vision problems, dizziness and loss of balance, and sudden severe headaches. Look for signs of stroke in someone else using the FAST test. Does the FACE droop when the person smiles? When both ARMS are raised, does one arm drift downward? When the person repeats a sentence, does the SPEECH sound slurred or strange? If you notice these signs in the Face, Arms, or Speech, it’s TIME to seek emergency care…FAST!”
You deserve to spend as much time in your home and with your family as possible….and no one gets better sitting in the waiting room of an ER. By law your insurance must pay in-network benefits at the ER of YOUR CHOICE whether the emergency room you choose is “in-network” or “out-of-network,” so when seconds count…the smart choice is St. Michael’s. Dr. Orsak says, “St. Michael’s is one of the only fully-accredited ER facilities with JCAHO, ACR, and CLIA certifications. We are in-network with AETNA and also accept more than 200 insurance plans, including Cigna, Blue Cross, United, and Humana. St. Michael’s treats everything from allergic reactions and broken bones to high fevers and chest pain. Whenever you and your family need us this holiday season, we’ll be ready…twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week!”
At this time St Michael’s is currently not participating with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
St. Michael’s Emergency Center
16062 SW Freeway (at Hwy 6)
Sugar Land, TX 77479
281-980-HELP