By Micki's Kitchen
Please print this, it may save a life
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, such as the “movie heart attack,” during which someone dramatically gasps, clutches her heart and drops to the ground. No one has any doubts about what’s happening. Although most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, often the people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.
Below are some of the 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 may occur with or without chest discomfort
other signs:
If you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than 5 minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1. If you’re the one having symptoms, and you can’t access emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. Don’t drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.
Stroke Warning Signs
- 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
Not all these warning signs occur in every stroke. If you or someone with you has one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS number
so an ambulance
(ideally with advanced life support) can quickly be sent to you.
Stroke is a medical emergency. Learn to recognize a stroke, because time lost is brain loss.