Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
- 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 upper back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Unexplained feelings of anxiety, fatigue, or weakness-especially with exertion.
- 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, lightheadedness, or stomach pain
Know the Warning Signs of a Stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Not all of these warning signs occur with every heart attack or stroke. If you have one or more of these signs, don't wait longer than five minutes before calling for help. Chew and swallow with water one regular full-strength aspirin as soon as possible. Insist that the hospital staff take your complaints seriously, do not make you wait, and give you a thorough cardiac evaluation including an electrocardiogram (EKG) or an echocardiogram and a blood test to check your cardiac enzymes.
Source: WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease
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