HEART HEALTH
Some Important Things to Know About
Heart
Attacks
Yes, chest pain, discomfort or
tightness are red flags—but pain
in the back, neck, jaw, shoulder or
arm can be, too. Women may experience
very different signs from
men, and some heart attack facts
may surprise you. Be alert for early
signs and don't hesitate to call 911
if you're unsure…minutes matter!
A heart attack can be sudden and strong, but most start slowly with mild pain,
sometimes weeks in advance. Don’t wait to get help if you experience any of
these heart attack warning signs:
• Chest pain or discomfort.
Most heart attacks involve pain,
discomfort or tightness 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. With or
without chest pain, a heart
attack may involve pain or
discomfort in one or both arms,
shoulders, the back, neck, jaw or
stomach.
• Shortness of breath. Difficult or
heavy breathing without exertion—
with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs. Other possible signs
include breaking out in a cold
sweat, nausea, lightheadedness
and unusual or extreme fatigue.
LINKS: www.heart.org (American Heart Association)
22 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE DIGEST • OCT–DEC 2018 | WWW.CHDIGEST.COM
/www.heart.org
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