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Heart Attack and Stroke

The Warning Signs

Every second counts when you think you or someone you love is having a heart attack or stroke.  Read the symptoms below and become familiar with them.  If you see or have any of these listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1.  You may not see all of the signs in every heart attack or stroke.  Some may even come and go.  If any occur, get help fast!  New medications and treatments can save the life of a heart attack or stroke victim more than in years past.  However, these new treatments work best if given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear.  So don’t delay—get help right away!

Heart Attack Warning Signs

According to the American Heart Association, 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 on one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath:  This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort.  But it can occur before the chest discomfort.

Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Less Common signs in women: 

• Atypical chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain.

• Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue.

• Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness.

• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing without chest pain.

• Nausea or dizziness without chest pain.

Stroke Warning Signs

The American Stoke 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.

Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning. 

·        Sudden loss of responsiveness.  No response to gentle shaking.

·        No normal breathing.  The victim does not take a normal breath when you check for several seconds.

·        No signs of circulation.  No movement or coughing.

If you or someone you know has any of the above symptoms, don’t wait longer than a few minutes (no more than five minutes) before calling for help.  Call 9-1-1…Get to a hospital right away!  Note the time when the first symptoms appeared so you can give accurate information to the medical team.

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.  You’ll get treated faster in the hospital if you come by ambulance, 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.