HEART ATTACKS AND FIREFIGHTERS

WHY ARE FIREFIGHTERS DYING MORE FROM HEART ATTACKS THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE OF LINE OF DUTY DEATH?

 

1. FIREFIGHTERS ARE AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE Harvard University just published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine to bring attention to this disturbing fact. 

2. STRESS We carry up to 120lbs. of equipment at fires and emergencies, operate for extended periods of time, see traumatic events that can lead to PTSD and make life or death decisions on a daily basis.

3. DIET/EXERCISE TOLERANCE As we all know our diet in the firehouse is not heart healthy.  We also go from 0 to 60 in 1 second when the beep-bop goes off. 

4. High Cholesterol Many of us have high cholesterol and do nothing about it.  This is the building block for heart disease and heart attacks!

5. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Many of us have this but don’t feel symptoms, so we do nothing about it.

6. OVERWIEGHT Yes, I mean you.  66% of us are overweight or obese and do nothing about it!

 

 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO… 

New York Firefighters Heart and Lung Institute

1165 Northern Blvd
Suite 400 Manhasset NY 11030

Phone (516) 441-7614

 

A MEDICAL CENTER DESIGNED BY FIREFIGHTERS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

 


NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS HEART AND LUNG INSTITUTE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR:  

1.  CHEST PAIN/PRESSURE

2.  SHORTNESS OF BREATH

3.  FATIGUE

4.  LIGHTHEADEDNESS

5.  DIZZINESS

6.  HEADACHE

 

RISK FACTORS:

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

HIGH CHOLESTEROL

OVERWEIGHT/OBESE

FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART PROBLEMS

9-11 EXPOSURE

SMOKER/PAST SMOKER

DRINKER

LACK OF EXERCISE

 

YOUR EVALUATION MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

Cardiac examination: This will consist of a basic cardiac physical exam, EKG, blood work with cholesterol and glucose screening along with other tests, as needed.

Pulmonary examination: This will consist of lung screening history of exposures, chest x-ray, pulmonary function test and referral for advanced testing, as needed to Eric Szillus NP

ORTHOPEDIC CONSULTATIONS:

X-RAY, MRI, LODI, PT

GERD SCREENINGS:

ENDOSCOPY,

COLONOSCOPY

CT SCANS 

Screening tests available

NUCLEAR STRESS TEST

ECHOCARDIOGRAM

PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST

STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM

CAROTID DOPPLER

VENOUS/ARTERIAL DOPPLER

CHEST X RAY

RENAL ULTRASOUND

LIVER ULTRASOUND

THYROID ULTRASOUND

 

WHAT DOES IT COST?

THERE IS MINIMAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE.  ALL FDNY INS. IS ACCEPTED.  SOME MAY NEED A REFERAL

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

GENERALLY THE COMPLETE WORK UP WILL TAKE 2-3 VISITS.  Each visit lasts about an hour and a half.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

ROB BROWN IS A FIREFIGHTER FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND A CARDIOLOGY P.A. FOR OVER 14 YEARS.   HE WRITES FOR FIREHOUSE.COM AND SPEAKS NATIONALLY ON FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND SAFETY.  

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HIM AT THE NUMBER LISTED BELOW FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.  ALL VISITS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND INFORMATION IS NOT SHARED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CALL (516) 441-7614