Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most of them start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often, the people affected aren't sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are some of the signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
1) 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.
2) Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw and stomach.
3) Shortness of breath. This feeling may occur with or without chest discomfort.
4) Other signs, like breaking out into a cold sweat, nausea or light headedness.
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptoms is the chest pain or discomfort. But, women are 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 are with is having any of these symptoms, don't wait longer than 5 minutes to call for help. Call 9-1-1.
Stroke Warning Signs
1) Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
2) Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3) Sudden trouble seeing with one or both eyes.
4) Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
5) Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is different than a heart attack, but cardiac arrest can be caused by several factors, including heart attack, trauma, electrocution, drowning, or it can have no known cause. Unresponsiveness is the critical red flag for sudden cardiac arrest.
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