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HEART ATTACK & STROKE 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 9-1-1 immediately at the onset of heart attack symptoms.

Dial 9-1-1 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 9-1-1. 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,
reducing disability and saving 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. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or
lightheadedness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But
women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms,
particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

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 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1.
Get to a hospital right away.

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.
Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital,
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.

Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning. Here are the signs:

Sudden loss of responsiveness (no response to tapping on shoulders).
No normal breathing (the victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head up and
check for at least five seconds).

If these signs of cardiac arrest are present, tell someone to call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if one is
available) and you begin CPR immediately.

If you are alone with an adult who has these signs of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if
one is available) before you begin CPR.

Use an AED as soon as it arrives.

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 someone with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or
the emergency medical services (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.

Used with the permission of www.americanheart.org ©2007, American Heart Association, Inc.