Heart Attack Warning Signs

Thousands die from heart attacks every year because they don't get medical treatment quickly enough.

Learning to recognize the signals of a heart attack can help you react quickly to save a life ~ either that of someone you love or your own!

PAIN

• Sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest
• Pain that may be in the chest, neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back
• Pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure
• In women, pain may be more vague
• Chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and goes away with rest

SHORTNESS of BREATH

• Difficulty breathing

NAUSEA

• Indigestion
• Vomiting

SWEATING

• Cool, clammy skin

FEAR

• Anxiety
• Denial

If you are experiencing any of these signals, you should:

• CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately, or have someone call for you. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times.
• STOP ALL ACTIVITY and sit or lie down, in whatever position is most comfortable.
• IF you take NITROGLYCERIN, take your normal dosage.
• IF you are experiencing CHEST PAIN, *CHEW and SWALLOW* one adult 325 mg ASA tablet (acetylsalicylic acid, commonly referred to as Aspirin™) or two 80 mg tablets. **Pain medicines such as acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) do not work the same way as ASA (Aspirin) and therefore will NOT help in the emergency situation described above**
• REST comfortably and WAIT for an ambulance with emergency medical personnel to arrive.

WHAT IS CARDIAC ARREST?

Cardiac arrest – or sudden cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death – is a medical emergency.

When a person stops breathing and the heart stops beating, then a person is experiencing cardiac arrest. (Cardiac arrest is not a heart attack, which is when the blood supply to the heart is slowed or stopped because of a blockage.)

Cardiac arrest may have a variety of causes, including heart disease, drowning, stroke, electrocution, suffocation, drug overdose, motor vehicle or other injury.

If you find someone experiencing cardiac arrest, you must act quickly. With each passing minute, the probability of survival declines by 7% to 10%. When CPR and defibrillation are used together, survival rates may increase to more than 50%.

SIGNS of CARDIAC ARREST

A person may be experiencing cardiac arrest when he or she is:

• Suddenly not responsive, especially when called or tapped on the shoulder.
• Not breathing when you tilt the head back and check for at least five seconds.

ACTIONS

If there are bystanders, follow these steps:

1) Tell someone to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
2) Tell someone to get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available and use it as soon as it arrives.
3) Begin CPR if you know it.

If you are alone with an adult experiencing a cardiac arrest, follow these steps:

1) Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
2) Get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available, and use it as soon as you have it in hand.
3) IF no AED is available, begin CPR if you know it.

I hope these warning signs for a heart attack are helpful ... this is something worth printing out and keeping in an easy to access place for future reference as is the info on Sudden Cardiac Arrest ~ although hopefully none of us will ever need it :o)