Your heart is one of the strongest muscles in the human body. The heart works to circulate blood to other vital organs in the body by pumping blood. Heart injury can range from congestive heart failure, heart attacks, trauma to your chest wall, or coronary artery disease. While all of these types of injuries require different treatment options, most of them share the same symptoms.

The most common symptom you may notice is moderate to severe chest pain or a heavy feeling. Other symptoms you may be noticing are shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, weakness, and dizziness. If you notice any of these symptoms persisting longer than 30 minutes, you should contact your physician.

Depending on the extent of your injury, your physician may suggest heart surgery. The physicians in the Heart and Vascular Center at Augusta Health suggest immediate action when your symptoms do not disappear on their own. When your physician tells you that you may need heart surgery, this may seem shocking but there are ways to prepare yourself to make you less nervous and more relaxed about having surgery.

You should ask questions to better inform yourself about the type of injury you sustained as well as what kind of procedure your physician will be performing. You can talk with every member on your surgical team to get to know exactly what they will be doing. By asking each member of your surgery team questions, you will form a trusting relationship, which will alleviate some of your nervousness and reticence about having surgery. You may want to change your diet and lifestyle to help speed up your recovery phase. By following these simple steps in preparing for your surgery, you will be able to continue to have a normal lifestyle.

If you are looking for a heart center in Harrisonburg VA give Augusta Health a call at (800) 932-0262.

Nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Augusta Health is among the finest community hospitals in America. Our patients receive an exceptional level of care, reassured that their loved ones and visitors have many amenities available within the hospital so they can all be comfortable while staying close during difficult times.

Augusta Health opened in 1994 to continue a tradition of personalized care with small-town hospitality that began more than 50 years ago with predecessor hospitals in Staunton and Waynesboro, Virginia. Today, our highly trained physicians and staff use state-of-the-art technology to provide superlative care with warmth and compassion.