Lincoln heart attack survivor: "I feel better than ever"

[June 20, 2015]  LINCOLN - Ruthetta Getchel and her husband, Jack, were a day away from a trip to Minnesota in July 2014 when she awoke in the middle of the night experiencing severe back pain and profuse sweating. He quickly drove his wife to the emergency department at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

After an initial evaluation, Getchel, 67, soon learned she was having a heart attack. She was stabilized and immediately taken by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, where she had four stents placed. She later had four additional stents placed in November.

“Without the emergency team at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, I’m certain I wouldn’t be here today,” the Lincoln resident said.

Always in good health, Getchel had no history of heart disease, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Logan County residents have a higher rate of heart disease than residents of other central Illinois counties, said Dr. Ish Singla, medical director of cardiology at the nonprofit community hospital.

Heart disease is also a leading cause of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital offers a variety of cardiovascular tests, including two new ones, allowing Logan and eastern Mason County residents to assess their heart health closer to home.

“If your physician suspects a problem with your heart, these additional tests can help to assess what’s wrong,” Singla said. “We want to ensure the people we serve have access to excellent cardiac care and follow-up services.”

Following her two life-saving stent procedures, Getchel was able to take advantage of the cardiac rehabilitation programs offered through Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. She attends the Phase II cardiac rehabilitation exercise program three times a week. Her heart rate, blood pressure and weight are all monitored.

Research says cardiac rehab saves lives, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Cardiac death was lower, there were fewer second heart attacks and fewer necessary cardiac surgeries in patients who were exercise-trained compared with those who received "usual care."

In addition to the cardiac rehab, Getchel takes part in the Lincoln hospital’s Heart Failure Clinic. She meets with her healthcare team monthly to review her progress. Her team includes a nurse practitioner, a pharmacist to review her medications and a dietary consultant to make sure she’s following the proper diet.

The AHA stresses the importance of making lifestyle changes to prevent a second heart attack. Those changes include avoiding tobacco, becoming more active and choosing good nutrition.

“All of this happened so fast and was so unexpected,” Getchel said. “I was completely unprepared for this entire lifestyle change. But with the cardiology team at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Services, I feel better than ever.”

[Michael Leathers, Memorial Health Systems]