Since 1963, Congress has required the President to declare February as American Health Month
to help raise public awareness of heart disease. Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack
and stroke, are our nation’s No. 1 killer.
The American Heart Association states that some heart attacks are sudden and intense (the
“movie heart attack”), but more start slowly with mild pain and discomfort. People don’t
know what is wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a
heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Most
heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few
minutes, or goes away and comes back.
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 with or without chest pain.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
As with men, women’s most common 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. Learn the signs, but
remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack have it checked out (tell a doctor
about your symptoms). Minutes matter!
Stroke
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is the 3rd leading cause of death. Risk factors for stroke include:
High blood pressure
Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib)
High cholesterol
Smoking
Diabetes
Poor circulation
Not being active
Obesity
Family history of stroke
Stroke warning signs include:
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
Remember ACT F.A.S.T.
Face-Uneven smile/Facial droop
Arm-Arm numbness/Arm weakness
Speech-Slurred speech/Difficulty speaking or understanding
Time-Call 9-1-1 immediately
Heart attack and stoke are life-and-death emergencies--every second counts. For more
information contact the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org or 1-800-AHAUSA1 (1-800-242-8721); American Stroke Association (ASA) at 1-888-4STROKE (1-888-478-7653)
or www.strokeassociation.org ; and National Stroke Association (NSA) at 1-800-STROKES or
www.stroke.org
Long Beach Island Health Department