Pam Vines didn’t think she was having a heart attack. She just didn’t feel right.

With an upcoming trip out of town for her husband’s medical treatment, Pam wanted peace of mind. She scheduled a heart catheterization with Dr. Hamo at Raleigh General Hospital, simply to “be sure” everything was okay before they left.

“I just thought I should check,” Pam said. “I didn’t want to take any chances.”

What happened next changed everything. During the heart catheterization, Pam went into cardiac arrest. Her heart stopped.

In seconds, what began as a precaution turned into a cardiac emergency. The Cath lab team moved quickly. Advanced cardiac protocols were activated. Life-saving measures were performed. Pam doesn’t remember many of those moments. What she does remember is waking up in the Coronary Care Unit on a ventilator.

“It was very scary,” she said. “I remember being on the ventilator in CCU. I remember talking to God. I knew there was a reason I was coming back.”

Pam spent weeks recovering in Raleigh General’s Coronary Care Unit. But what stands out most to her isn’t just the technology or the procedures. It’s the people. “The nurses in CCU… I can’t even begin to thank them,” Pam said.

Nurses braided her hair when she couldn’t do it herself. They took the time to sit with her. They made sure she ate. One nurse even brought her homemade mashed potatoes. “That meant more than they’ll ever know,” she said. “They didn’t just treat me. They cared for me.”

Pam says her experience changed her perspective.

“Bigger isn’t always better. Raleigh took care of me. The heart care here is amazing and so are the nurses.”

Today, Pam is doing well. She is grateful for a second chance and grateful she chose to get checked when something didn’t feel right.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. 1 in 5 female deaths is caused by heart disease. Women often experience different or more subtle heart attack symptoms than men. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, nausea, back or jaw pain, unusual fatigue, or pressure in the chest. Many women delay care because they are busy caring for others.

Pam’s story is a reminder: do not ignore the signs.

Raleigh General Hospital, is a nationally-recognized Cath Lab with PCI and Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI by ACC Accreditation Services, the accrediting arm of the American College of Cardiology.

In addition to heart attack care, Raleigh General offers a wide range of cardiovascular services including general cardiology, diagnostic testing, diagnostic and interventional cardiology.

For more information on Raleigh General Hospital’s heart services or to take a free heart health assessment, visit RaleighGeneral.com/heart.