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Harvard Heart Letter | May 2008
Know the warning signs
Don’t be left wondering when a stroke or heart attack strikes.
Two-thirds
of Americans can’t identify the signs of a heart attack and say what
needs to be done when one strikes. That’s the unsettling news from a
survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The
longer you wonder “Am I having a heart attack?” or “Am I having a
stroke?” the longer your heart or brain cells may be cut off from
life-sustaining oxygen. (You don’t get much time to think about a
cardiac arrest — a few seconds after it hits, you’re unconscious.)
It’s hard not
to wonder, though. Heart attacks aren’t always the obvious,
chest-clutching, elephants-sitting-on-my-chest events portrayed on
television or in articles about the warning signs of a heart attack.
The signs can be subtle, like heaviness in the arms, unusual fatigue,
or unexpected nausea. A heart attack can be mistaken for the flu,
indigestion, or a strained muscle. Strokes can be equally sneaky. A
general rule: if you think you are having a heart attack or stroke, act
on that suspicion.
Fast action is essential. The sooner you
get to the hospital, the greater the chances that doctors can restore
blood flow to your heart or brain and thus minimize permanent damage to
these key organs.
We hope that our readers are among the
one-third of Americans who know the warning signs. Just in case you
aren’t, here’s a list suitable for posting on the refrigerator or near
the telephone. It covers all three of the major cardiovascular
catastrophes.
Before putting it up, take a minute or so to
read the list a few times. A small investment of time now might help
you, someone you love, or even a stranger survive one of these
disasters and live a long life afterward.
Know the signs
Every
minute counts when a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest is under
way. Knowing the signs can translate into getting to the hospital — and
getting treatment — fast enough to do the most good. If you recognize
any of the signs below, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Don’t call your doctor’s office or drive yourself to the hospital.
Heart attack
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Pain in the center of the chest
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Shortness of breath
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Cold sweat
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Nausea
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Weakness
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Unusual fatigue
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Heaviness, weakness, or pain in one or both arms
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Back pain
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Indigestion
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Racing or fluttering heart
Stroke
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Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
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Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
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Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
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Sudden problem with walking, loss of balance, or coordination
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Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Cardiac arrest
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