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Tips For Healthy Heart
Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest - Warning Signs
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart
attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart
attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people
affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting
help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
-
Chest
discomfort. Most
heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that
lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.
It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or
pain.
-
Discomfort in
other areas of the upper body. Symptoms
can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back,
neck, jaw or stomach.
-
Shortness of
breath
with or without chest discomfort.
-
Other signs
may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or
lightheadedness
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or
discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to
experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly
shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Learn the signs,
but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack,
have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes
matter! Fast action can save lives
If you can't
access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive
you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms,
don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.
Stroke
Warning Signs
The American Stroke Association says these are the warning signs
of stroke:
-
Sudden numbness
or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of
the body
-
Sudden
confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
-
Sudden trouble
seeing in one or both eyes
-
Sudden trouble
walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
-
Sudden, severe
headache with no known cause
If you or someone
with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay! Immediately
call the emergency medical services (EMS). Also, check the time so
you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important
to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start
of symptoms, a clot-busting drugs can reduce long-term disability
for the most common type of stroke.
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without
warning
-
Sudden loss of
responsiveness (no response to tapping on shoulders).
-
No normal
breathing (the victim does not take a normal breath when you
tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds).
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