Could It Be A Heart Attack?
Catch the signs early
While most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, some are sudden and intense. Pay attention to your body so that you can catch the warning signs early. Call 911 if you or a loved one experience any of the following:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes - or it may go away and then return. 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. This can occur with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The abrupt loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. The condition usually results from a problem with your heart's electrical system, which disrupts your heart's pumping action and stops blood flow to your body. Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest. If not treated immediately, sudden cardiac arrest can lead to death. Survival is possible with fast appropriate medical care. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using a defibrillator- or even just giving compressions to the chest - can improve the chances of survival until emergency workers arrive.
Signs of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and drastic and include:
- Sudden collapse
- No pulse
- No breathing
- Loss of consciousness
Sometimes other signs and symptoms occur before sudden cardiac arrest. These might include:
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart (palpitations)
SUDDEN CARDIAC OFTEN OCCURS WITH NO SIGNS
Call 911 or emergency medical help if you experience any of these signs and symptoms:
- CHEST PAIN OR DISCOMFORT
- HEART PALPITATIONS
- RAPID OR IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS
- UNEXPLAINED WHEEZING
- SHORTNESS OF BREATH
- FAINTING OR NEAR FAINTING
- LIGHTHEADEDNESS OR DIZZINESS
When the heart stops, the lack of oxygen-rich blood can cause death or permanent brain damage within minutes. Time is critical when you're helping an unconscious person who isn't breathing.
If you see someone who's unconscious and not breathing normally, do the following:
- Call 911 or emergency medical help
- Perform CPR
- Use a portable defibrillator