January 2003
Heart
Attack “Classic” Warning Signs:
- Uncomfortable pressure,
fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more
than a few minutes or goes away and comes back
- Pain that spreads
to the shoulders, neck or arms
- Lightheadedness,
fainting, sweating or nausea
Less common warning
signs: often occurring in women:
- Atypical chest
pain, stomach or abdominal pain
- Nausea or dizziness
(without chest pain)
- Difficulty in
breathing (without chest pain)
- Unexplained anxiety,
weakness or fatigue
- Palpitations,
cold sweat or paleness
Not all of these signs
occur in every heart attack, some occur, go away and then return. Get
help fast if any of these signs occur in you or you observe them in someone
else.
Stroke Common Warning
signs:
- Numbness or loss
of feeling on one side of the body, usually in the face, arm or leg
- Sudden loss of
vision, especially in one eye
- Abrupt onset of
a severe headache
- Sudden dizziness
or loss of balance
- Difficulty speaking
or slurring of words, or trouble understanding speech
- “Mini Strokes”
may occur without noticeable symptoms but even slight symptoms that
occur but fade quickly should warrant a visit to your doctor for follow
up with tests and or treatment
Prevention for
both heart attack and stroke includes:
- Exercise: Consult
your doctor for a routine to fit your needs
- Weight loss, even
a 5 or 10 pound loss will reduce blood pressure, eat a diet low in saturated
fat and high in fresh vegetables and fruit
- Stop smoking
- Control of cholesterol,
blood pressure, and diabetes
- Limit alcohol
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