This news has been hard to ignore, even if you don't watch the show.
I am diving right into action, unlike Carrie Bradshaw. John, Carrie's husband, has a heart attack. Big collapses near the shower after a vigorous indoor-cycling session, where Carrie finds him and springs into action. Carrie found him and froze. They are staring at each other. He falls over. She yells. She rushed to him. She doesn't call for help. She doesn't do cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Instead, she tells us via an old Carrie Bradshaw voice over.
Now, fans everywhere are demanding answers about who is to blame for Big die. What should a person do in that situation? Is my car going to be my last one? Probably not.
If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call the emergency room. Don't be a Carrie. Be a hero. If you have a heart attack, you need to know what to do and what not to do.
Symptoms of a heart attack can be seen.
Many people have warning signs hours or days in advance of a heart attack. Someone who has a heart attack may have any of the following.
There is a feeling of pressure or pain in the center of the chest.
It can be pain in the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or occasionally upper abdomen.
Experiencing nausea, indigestion, or abdominal pain.
Shortness of breath.
Lightheadedness, dizziness, and faintness.
Sweating.
Some people have no chest pain or pressure after a heart attack. If it lasts for a few minutes, then go away, then come back, then it can persist. Women tend to have more-vague symptoms, such as nausea or back or jaw pain.
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Looking at you, Carrie, why time is so important.
Lifehacker Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki said that watching someone die is not good first aid. Big's death might have been preventable.
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can be seen by anyone, and it is possible to save a person's life by seeking advanced medical care. If a heart attack victim gets help within 90 minutes of the start of symptoms and 60 minutes of arrival to the hospital, their outcomes are likely to improve.
Rachel Handler investigated the facts of the Big heart attack. Carrie would have had time to act since Big would have been having a heart attack about 30 minutes after she found him. What should she have done?
When someone is having a heart attack, what should they do?
The Red Cross guidelines can be found here.
The first thing you should do is call the emergency number. Don't ignore the symptoms. If you can't get an ambulance or emergency vehicle to come to you, you should call a friend or neighbor. Since your condition can get worse, driving yourself puts you and others at risk.
If someone else stops breathing and becomes unresponsive, you should give them cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If the person isn't breathing or has no pulse, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation to keep blood flowing. Push hard and fast on the center of the person's chest, about 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
Even if you don't know how to find a pulse or are not trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, you can still call the emergency room and push on the person's chest.
Here are other things you can do in the meantime.
Wait for emergency help and take an aspirin. Aspirin keeps your blood from clotting. During a heart attack, it can reduce heart damage.
If prescribed, take nitroglycerin. Big was. It's a sad day, Big. If you think you are having a heart attack and your doctor has prescribed nitroglycerin before, take it as directed.
If the person is unconscious and the automated external defibrillator is available, follow the instructions on the device.
Allow the person to rest in a comfortable position and loosen any tight clothing. Many people find sitting easier to breathe in.
Ensure the person is well and watch their condition until the paramedics arrive.
Could Carrie have saved Big?
Theoretically, yes. Daniel Luger is a cardiologist at Rush University Medical Center.
Carrie needed to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately when he went unconscious and lost a pulse. Call for help, and start chest compressions. The first thing you should do if you see someone lose consciousness is to call for help. If there is no pulse, call the emergency medical service and begin chest compressions. You can save people's lives in that way. He did not need to die. This is a travesty.
A travesty. And guess what? I do not watch the show.
If you think you are having a heart attack, here is our previous coverage on what to do.
