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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 aren't sure
what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.
If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one
or more of the other signs listed below, don't wait long. Call 911... Get to the accredited Chest Pain
Center at Kettering Medical Center right away.
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 Heart Attack Warning Signs
- 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.
These symptoms, however, are typical for middle-aged men and not necessarily for women. According to a number of physicians, women are more likely to have the following symptoms:
Women - Heart Attack Warning Signs
- vague abdominal discomfort
- nausea and vomiting, fatigue
- shortness of breath (trouble catching your breath)
- arm and/or chest pain
Traditionally heart disease was thought of as a man's disease. Many women tend not to give it much thought. "It could never happen to me," some women say. Unfortunately, their thinking is wrong. Sometimes...dead wrong.
Stroke Symptoms
- 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.
The Numbers are Revealing
Each year, heart attacks claim the lives of some 530,000 men and women in the United States. Approximately one half of all fatal heart attacks (about 260,000) are sustained by women! Another 100,000 women die each year from stroke alone. On a larger scale, all heart and blood vessel diseases combined claim more than 512,000 women's lives annually. By comparison, less then 265,000 women perish each year from all forms of cancer.
It's important that you call 911 if you experience these symptoms, or recognize them in someone else. The sooner you take action with heart attack warning signs, the better your chances of reducing permanent heart muscle damage or even death.
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