Madison County Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Lawyer

Madison County Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Attorney

A heart attack can be one of the most confusing experiences you can go through. It is a scary, painful, and hectic experience with one thing that is clear; get medical attention at once. If you do not seek treatment for a heart attack at once, it can lead to further medical problems like permanent heart muscle damage, stroke, heart aneurysm, complete heart failure, or death.

Even with immediate medical intervention, a heart attack may still be immediately fatal. More than one million heart attack cases occur in America every year, and more than 460,000 of these cases are fatal.

If you experienced harm because of a heart attack misdiagnosis in Madison County, get legal help. Speak to an experienced lawyer today.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

The biggest issue with diagnosing a heart attack is that it shares symptoms with other more common conditions. The symptoms of heart attacks vary from person to person and in severity. Some people may not even notice any of the symptoms as they are very mild.

Most people about to suffer a heart attack usually feel:

• Pain or discomfort in the left arm, back, or neck
• Feeling tightness or pressure in the chest
• Sweating excessively
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath even when at rest
• Feeling discomfort in the chest region

Symptoms in women will sometimes differ, such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the upper abdomen or lower chest
• Feeling lightheaded
• Fainting
• Extreme fatigue
• Upper back pressure

Tests that Can Diagnose Heart Conditions

In the best-case scenario, you will recognize the symptoms of a heart attack early and seek medical help.

A doctor should carry out the following tests to determine the best treatment for you.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

This test records the heart’s electrical activity as it beats. The test can identify abnormal heartbeats, some damaged areas, inadequate blood flow, and heart enlargement.

Blood Test

Blood tests check for enzyme levels and other chemicals released as cells die. Blood tests help determine the amount of damage to the heart.

Nuclear Scan

A nuclear scan is done by injecting the patient with a small amount of nuclear material and recording with a scanning camera. The areas where there is no record of the injected nuclear material are damaged. Nuclear scans will help the doctor identify problems with the heart-pumping action. The test also shows where the heart lacks blood flow.

Coronary Angiography

This test checks for blocked or narrow areas inside coronary arteries. A doctor injects a dye that shows up in x-rays into the bloodstream and records the flow.

How Heart Attacks get Misdiagnosed

Physicians are not infallible and can misdiagnose a heart attack when:

• They fail to recognize symptoms of a heart attack. Women will often present atypical symptoms while young, healthy-looking people do not fit the usual demographic of most victims.
• The doctor diagnoses the symptoms as another disease, such as heartburn.
• They did not order the necessary tests.
• The technician did not read the test results correctly.

Can a Heart Misdiagnosis be Medical Malpractice?

Yes.

The doctor or medical practitioner may have been negligent and not given the proper amount of care while treating the heart attack.

Call a Madison County Lawyer for Heart Attack Misdiagnoses

In the state of Illinois, you have two years to file a malpractice lawsuit from the date of the incident or from the date you first identify there might be a problem.

An attorney with experience in medical malpractice lawsuits can improve your chances for compensation by a significant margin. They can navigate through the complex, ever-changing, confusing, and convoluted rules and procedures that apply to medical malpractice better than you can. If you suffered a heart attack misdiagnosis in Madison County, contact our firm today.