In the United States, one person experiences a heart attack about every 20 seconds and another dies from a heart attack about every minute.
Heart attacks are among the most commonly misdiagnosed condition. For instance, when a patient is rushed to the emergency room complaining of discomfort, doctors might mistakenly attribute it to indigestion, fatigue, or stress. Serious heart conditions can sometimes be difficult to diagnosis since symptoms might present in an unusual fashion. However, misdiagnosis can also be due to understaffed emergency rooms and negligent medical professionals.
Regardless of why the misdiagnosis is made, patients who are prematurely discharged can later suffer a heart attack, brain injury, stroke, or other serious injury.
The fact is misdiagnosed heart conditions are a serious problem and result in many medical malpractice cases.
At Carr & Carr, we represent people who have suffered all types of heart conditions due to negligent misdiagnosis.
You can also protect yourself by knowing the warning signs of a heart attack, which include:
- Shortness of breath (occurring simultaneously or before chest pain)
- Chest discomfort or pain (squeezing, pressure, fullness)
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach)
- Cold sweat
- Nausea
- Light-headedness
However, this list does not include all the warning signs. Sometimes warning signs are subtle and atypical, which means not everyone has the same symptoms. Remember, time is of the essence and if you do have any sign that might be related to your heart, you should seek help from a medical professional immediately.
If you believe you or a loved one has suffered from a heart attack or heart condition being misdiagnosed, contact the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys at Carr & Carr, with lawyers in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
