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Windal Coley: Every Minute Matters
“All of a sudden my chest started hurting
and my head felt funny,” says Windal Coley.
“I told my wife how I was feeling and she
immediately went to the medicine cabinet
and brought me a nitroglycerin pill. She
put it under my tongue and called 9-1-1.
Hamilton EMS got here fast.”
Windal was experiencing a heart attack.
Thankfully, he and his wife, Cyndi,
recognized the symptoms and acted quickly.
Paramedics Chris Downey and Leslie
Downing of Hamilton EMS arrived at
the Coley’s home, quickly assessed the
situation, and loaded Windal into the
ambulance. An EKG showed that Windal was
experiencing an ST-Elevation Myocardial
Infarction, also known as a STEMI. A STEMI
is a very serious type of heart attack during
which one of the heart’s major arteries is
blocked. It has a substantial risk of death
and disability and requires a quick response.
A few minutes into the ambulance ride,
Windal went into cardiac arrest. Leslie
immediately recognized that Windal’s heart
went into ventricular fibrillation, a shockable
rhythm. She and Chris used the Zoll X
Series® monitor-defibrillator to administer
a shock and began chest compressions.
Windal immediately responded, began
breathing regularly, and said his chest felt
better.
The Zoll device transmitted Windal’s
biometrics to Hamilton Medical Center’s
Certified Chest Pain Center. Eric Guerra,
MD, an interventional cardiologist with
Hamilton Physician Group-Cardiology, was
ready and waiting for Windal to arrive. Then
he inserted three stents into his arteries to
restore blood flow.
“My wife and I are forever grateful to
Paramedics Chris Downey and Leslie
Downing for their quick arrival and expertise
in responding to my condition both at
home and in the ambulance,” says Windal.
“I knew I was in good hands when I saw
Dr. Guerra and Dr. Olsen upon my arrival
to Hamilton Medical Center. Everyone has
been very caring and helpful throughout my
experience. It is comforting to know I have a
caring and competent cardiologist and staff
to turn to when I have questions or when
problems arise.”
Windal is now in Hamilton Medical Center’s
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and feeling
better than ever–which is really important
for keeping up with his grandchildren! (Two
of Windal’s grandchildren, twins Luke and
Lorileigh Coley, were featured on the cover
of Hamilton Health magazine in the summer
of 2012 for their stay in Hamilton Medical
Center’s Turner Maternal and Infant Care
Center’s Neonatal Internal Care Unit. As you
can see, they are doing great!)
Do you know how to spot a heart attack?
The most common warning symptoms of a
heart attack are:
• Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart
attacks involve discomfort in the center
or left side of the chest. This usually
lasts for more than a few minutes or
goes away and comes back. It can
feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness,
or pain. It also can feel like heartburn
or indigestion.
• Upper body discomfort. You may feel
pain or discomfort in one or both arms,
the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or
upper part of the stomach.
• Shortness of breath. This may be your
only symptom, or it may occur before
or along with chest pain or discomfort.
It can occur when you are resting or
doing a little bit of physical activity.
• Chest pain or discomfort that doesn’t
go away or changes from its usual
pattern (for example, occurs more often
or while you’re resting) can be a sign of
a heart attack.
Less common symptoms of a heart
attack include:
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Feeling unusually tired for no reason,
sometimes for days
• Nausea (feeling sick to the stomach)
and vomiting
• Light-headedness or sudden dizziness
• Any sudden, new symptoms or a
change in the pattern of symptoms
you already have (for example, if your
symptoms become stronger or last
longer than usual)
Quick Action Can Save Your Life:
Call 9–1–1
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack
can develop suddenly. However, they also
can develop slowly—sometimes within
hours, days, or weeks of a heart attack.
If you think you might be having heart
attack symptoms, don’t ignore it or feel
embarrassed to call for help.
Eric Guerra, MD
Dr. Guerra recommends the following:
Call 9–1–1 for emergency medical care,
even if you are not sure whether you’re
having a heart attack. Here’s why:
• Acting fast can save your life.
• An ambulance is the safest way to get
to the hospital. Emergency medical
services (EMS) personnel can start lifesaving
medicines and other treatments
right away.
• The 9–1–1 operator or EMS technician
can give you advice. You might be told
to crush or chew an aspirin, unless
there is a medical reason for you not to
take one.
• Every minute matters.
In an emergency, minutes matter...so do
quality and expertise. Advanced emergency
and specialty care are ready and waiting
for you when you need it, close to home at
Hamilton Medical Center.
Hamilton Cardiology
Associates
706.226.3434
1436 Broadrick Drive
Dalton, Georgia
HamiltonHealth.com/HPG
