Joe Wilson Hospitalized After Medical Emergency

## Joe Wilson Hospitalized After Medical Emergency Former US Congressman Joe Wilson was hospitalized in South Carolina after suffering a medical emergency on Thursday, according to his office. Wilson, 75, was admitted to the Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, after experiencing chest pains. He underwent a cardiac catheterization and was diagnosed with a heart attack. Wilson's office said in a statement that the former congressman is "resting comfortably" and is expected to make a full recovery. Wilson served in the US House of Representatives from 1999 to 2011. He is best known for shouting "You lie!" at President Barack Obama during a 2009 speech to Congress. Wilson's hospitalization comes just weeks after he announced that he would not be seeking re-election to the House in 2022. **What is a heart attack?** A heart attack occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common cause of a heart attack is a blood clot that forms in a coronary artery. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. **Symptoms of a heart attack** The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain. Other symptoms include: * Shortness of breath * Nausea * Vomiting * Lightheadedness * Dizziness * Pain in the arm, back, neck, or jaw **Treatment for a heart attack** Treatment for a heart attack typically involves: * Medications to dissolve the blood clot and restore blood flow to the heart * Angioplasty and stenting to open up the blocked artery * Coronary artery bypass surgery to create a new pathway for blood to flow to the heart **Prevention of a heart attack** There are a number of things you can do to prevent a heart attack, including: * Eating a healthy diet * Getting regular exercise * Maintaining a healthy weight * Not smoking * Managing your blood pressure and cholesterol **If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.**