Self Assessment

Coronary Heart Disease is America's number one killer. Stroke is number three and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it is so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs and know how to respond quickly and properly to the warning signs.

Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense -- where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often the people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

These are some of the signs of a heart attack:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, acompanying chest discomfort. But it can occur before the chest discomfort.
• Other signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't wait! Call 9-1-1... Get to a hospital right away. If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

Heart Attack Warning Signs Poster

[download poster pdf]

Know Your Risks

Extensive studies of family medical histories, physical characteristics and lifestyles have identified a number of factors that increase the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease tends to be more common in certain families, in people with diabetes, in males and in people over age 50. These are factors you cannot change.

Many risks can be lessened or eliminated by altering your lifestyle and following your doctor's advice or plan of treatment.

These risk factors include:

• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure
• Lack of exercise
• A diet high in cholesterol (fat)
• Excessive stress and tension
• Obesity
  

Warning Signs of Stroke
If you notice one or more of these signs in another person or yourself, don't wait. Call 9-1-1 immediately and get the person to a hospital right away! Treatment can be more effective if given quickly. Every second counts!

The signs are:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially
  on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Not all of these signs occur with every stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast. If you notice one or more of these signs in another person, don't wait. Call 9-1-1 and get them to a hospital right away!