Coronary heart disease is the no. 1 cause of death in the United States for both men and women, according to the centers for disease prevention and control and the American Heart Association, while some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most start slowly—with mild pain or discomfort. Some of the signs that can mean a heart attack is happening include:
- 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 with or without chest discomfort.
- other signs 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.
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! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1. 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.
Stroke is the no. 3 cause of death in the united states and a leading cause of serious disability. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. It is critical that you know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur. the American Stroke Association says these are the warning signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness/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 called tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. TPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.
The good news is that there are healthy lifestyle choices that can reduce the likelihood of both heart attack and stroke. These include: cigarette smoking cessation, weight maintenance or reduction, a heart-healthy diet, cholesterol management, and daily exercise.