09 | 19 | 2006 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long
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Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs

According to the American Heart Association, "Coronary heart disease is America's No. 1 killer.  Stroke is No. 3 and a leading cause of serious disability.”  The AHA provides the following warning signs for heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest, and urges people to familiarize themselves with the signs in order to act quickly and properly.

Heart Attack Warning Signs:

  • Chest discomfort.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Other signs, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Stroke Warning Signs:    

  • 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.
If you or someone you are with has any of the symptoms listed above, call 9-1-1 immediately and follow instructions provided by the 9-1-1 operator.  Do not attempt to drive yourself to the hospital.

Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning.  Here are the signs:

  • Sudden loss of responsiveness (no response to tapping on shoulders).
  • No normal breathing (the victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds).
If you are with someone who has signs of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 immediately and tell the operator the signs.   If advised by the 9-1-1 operator, begin CPR.     

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