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 911 immediately at the onset of heart attack symptoms.

Dial 911 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, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, which reduces disability and saves 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. 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

If you or someone you�re with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don�t wait longer than a few minutes (no more than five) before calling for help. Call 911. Get to a hospital right away.

Calling 911 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive � up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff also are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. You�ll also get treated faster in the hospital if you come by ambulance.

If you can�t access 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 some with you has one or more of these signs, don�t delay! Immediately call 911 or the 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:

• 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 cardiac arrest occurs, call 911 and begin CPR immediately. If an automated external defibrillator is available and someone trained to use it is nearby, involve them.

Source: Reproduced with permission. American Heart Association web site: www.americanheart.org. Copyright 2002. American Heart Association, Dallas.