Minnesota Heart Attack Errors Lawyer
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and it strikes people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. However, people over the age of 65 are most likely to suffer from a heart attack and other heart problems and the symptoms of a heart attack vary between men and women. Everyone should understand the common signs of a heart attack, so they can receive the immediate medical treatment that can save their life. Doctors also have to know the common signs of a heart attack so they can recognize when a patient is suffering from one and provide the correct treatment.
When a doctor has made a mistake in diagnosing or treating a heart attack, patients suffer immeasurable harm. Doctors and other healthcare professionals can be held liable when they make heart attack errors that result in injury or death. A Minnesota heart attack error lawyer can help individuals who have been hurt claim the damages they deserve.
Common Signs of a Heart Attack
Men and women experience heart attacks quite differently. It is not uncommon for men to experience an intense pressure that feels like squeezing or tightening for several minutes. Men are also more likely to feel the characteristic tingling or pain in the arm, usually in the left side.
Women, on the other hand, experience much different symptoms of heart attacks than men, and those signs widely vary. The most common of these include:
- Restlessness
- Pressure in the upper back
- Extreme fatigue
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
Interestingly, women often do not experience the aches and pains in the left arm that are commonly seen in men. They also do not usually experience chest pain. When diagnosing a heart attack, these are usually the two main signs a doctor will look for. When they do not notice them in women, they may send them home, which can have catastrophic consequences.
Other Heart Attack Errors
Doctors fail to accurately diagnose heart attacks more often than anyone wants to think about, particularly when a woman suffers from one. There are many examples of negligence, or carelessness, that also result in heart attack errors. These include:
- Misdiagnosis: A failure to diagnose is common in heart attack cases, but so are misdiagnoses. A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor gives a patient a diagnosis of indigestion or heartburn, failing to recognize the patient is actually suffering from a heart attack. Little to no treatment is provided and even when it is, it is not what the patient needs.
- Failure to review family history: Genetics play a large role in heart disease. When a doctor does not properly review the patient’s family history, the patient is at a much higher risk of suffering from a heart attack.
- Misinterpreting test results: There are certain tests, such as an ECG, that doctors can perform to detect heart issues. Even when these tests are performed, a doctor must know how to interpret the results or it could result in a deadly heart attack error.
Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Minnesota Today
If you have suffered from a heart attack error, or someone you love has passed away from a mistake, our Minnesota medical malpractice lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC can help. We know how to determine when a heart attack error occurred, and we know how to make it right. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
