Heart Attack, Stroke
and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
Act in Time
The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute have launched a new "Act in Time" campaign
to increase people's awareness of heart attack and the importance
of calling 9-1-1 immediately at the onset of heart attack symptoms.
Dial 9-1-1 Fast
Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies every second
counts. If you see or have any of the listed symptoms, immediately
call 911. Not all these signs occur in every
heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some
occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can
benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients
in years past. For example, clotbusting drugs can stop some heart
attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving
lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively
quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again,
don't delay get help right away!
Statistics
Coronary heart disease is America's No. 1 killer. Stroke is No.
3 and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it's so
important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and
know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.
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. Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives
maybe your own. Dont wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the
fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services
staff can begin treatment when they arrive up to an hour sooner
than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff are also
trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with
chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment
at the hospital, too.
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 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number
so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent
for you. 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 drug
can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning.
Here are the signs:
If these signs of cardiac arrest
are present, tell someone to call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if one is
available) and you begin CPR immediately.
If you are alone with an adult who
has these signs of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if
one is available) before you begin CPR.
Use an AED as soon as it arrives.
©2007 American Heart Association,
Inc.
