Cardiovascular Disease Basics
Learn the Signs, Save a Life — Being able to identify the symptoms of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke is very important. But even more critical is taking immediate action to get help. It could be a matter of life or death, so every minute counts. Call 911!
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly, with discomfort, mild pain or one or more of the following:
- 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.
- Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath that occurs with or without chest discomfort.
- Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest is the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function. The American Heart Association urges the public to be prepared for emergencies by recognizing these signs of cardiac arrest:
- 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 pulse, movement or coughing.
Women's Heart Attack Symptoms May Be Different
Both women and men with heart disease may have "classic" chest discomfort, pressure or tightening that grips the chest and spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, women also have a greater tendency to experience:
- Abdominal discomfort/indigestion, sometimes a burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen.
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Nausea, vomiting or flu-like symptoms.
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness.
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Stroke
Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease affecting the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked by plaque or a clot. The warning signs are listed by the American Stroke Association as:
- 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.
Take Your Symptoms Seriously. Call 911.
Calling 911 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.
- Most heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments but prompt treatment is the key. Heart and/or brain tissue begins to die moments after the blood supply is cut off during a heart attack or stroke.
- If cardiac arrest occurs, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately after calling 911. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available and someone trained to use it is nearby, involve him or her. If you can't find an AED-trained individual, follow the AED's instructions to administer a shock.
- If you can't access emergency medical services (EMS), drive the patient to the nearest hospital. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself unless you have absolutely no other option.
- Be sure to note the time when the first symptoms appeared. This is valuable information that will help the healthcare team.
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Content taken from the 2006 Wal-Mart Healthy Heart Resource Book
courtesy of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
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