Heart Attacks

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

• Chest pains that are caused from exertion but go away when resting
• Sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Cool, clammy skin
• Fear, anxiety, and denial

Are symptoms the same for women and men?

• Yes, women experience the same symptoms as men.

What are the signs of cardiac arrest?

• When the person becomes suddenly unresponsive to external stimuli, including physical touch.
• When the person stops breathing. To perform a breathing check, kneel next to the person and gently tilt their head back. Place your ear within close proximity to the person’s nose to look for tactile signs of breathing; at the same time, keep an eye for visual signs of breathing in the rest of the body (e.g. ribcage movement). Check for at least five seconds. 

What should you do when if you are alone and think you are having a heart attack?

• Call 911 immediately. You should have emergency numbers written down and kept next to a phone at all times.

What are the risk factors that contribute to having a heart attack?

Controllable risks:                                                      

• High blood pressure                                       
• High blood cholesterol           
• Diabetes
• Being overweight
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Stress

Uncontrollable risks:

• Age
• Gender
• Family History
• Ethnicity

 

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Last Updated: December 2, 2008 9:30 PM