A heart attack is a frightening event, and you probably don’t want to think about it. But, if you learn the signs of a heart attack and what steps to take, you can save a life–maybe your own.

If you’re a woman, you may not believe you’re as vulnerable to a heart attack as men–but you are. Women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men.

There are differences in how women and men respond to a heart attack. Women are less likely than men to believe they’re having a heart attack and more likely to delay in seeking emergency treatment.

Further, women tend to be about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack. They are more likely to have other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure–making it all the more vital that they get proper treatment fast.

Women should learn the heart attack warning signs. These are:

* Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest.

* Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

* Other symptoms, such as a shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

Women’s symptoms not as predictable

According to Patricia A.Grady, PhD, RN, Director of the NINR, “Increasingly, it is evident that women’s symptoms are not as predictable as men’s symptoms. This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate heart attack. It is important not to miss the earliest possible opportunity to prevent or ease AMI, which is the number one cause of death in both women and men.”

The women’s major symptoms prior to their heart attack included:

* Unusual fatigue – 70%
* Sleep disturbance – 48%
* Shortness of breath – 42%
* Indigestion – 39%
* Anxiety – 35%

Major symptoms during the heart attack include:

* Shortness of breath – 58%
* Weakness – 55%
* Unusual fatigue – 43%
* Cold sweat – 39%
* Dizziness – 39%

If you feel heart attack symptoms, do not delay. Remember, minutes matter! Do not wait for more than a few minutes–5 minutes at most–to call 9-1-1. Your family will benefit most if you seek fast treatment.

To learn more about women and heart disease:

Healthy Heart Handbook for Women

If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 or your emergency medical system immediately.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.

Women may not think they’re at risk of having a heart attack–but they are. Heart Attack Warning Signs – Women

Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

* 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. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

* Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.

* Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone you’re with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number… Get to a hospital right away.

Calling 9-1-1 or your emergency response number is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. You’ll also get treated faster in the hospital if you come by ambulance.

How do I know if a heart attack has occurred?

A doctor who’s studied the results of several tests must diagnose a heart attack. The doctor will

* review the patient’s complete medical history.
* give a physical examination.
* use an electrocardiogram (e-lek”tro-KAR’de-o-gram) (ECG or EKG) to discover any abnormalities caused by damage to the heart. An ECG is a medical device that makes a graphical record of the heart’s electrical activity.
* sometimes use a blood test to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the bloodstream.

Blood tests confirm (or refute) suspicions raised in the early stages of evaluation that may occur in an emergency room, intensive care unit or urgent care setting. These tests are sometimes called heart damage markers or cardiac enzymes.

Stroke Warning Signs

If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay!

* Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

* 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

Immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. The usual TIA symptoms are the same as those of stroke, only temporary. The short duration of these symptoms and lack of permanent brain injury is the main difference between TIA and stroke.

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 these signs of cardiac arrest are present, tell someone to call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number and get an AED (if one is available) and you begin CPR immediately.

If you are alone with an adult who has these signs of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if one is available) before you begin CPR.

Dial 9-1-1 Fast

Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies — every second counts. If you see or have any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don’t delay — get help right away!

Statistics

Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. That’s why it’s so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.

On Thursday December 31, 2009 at 10:30am I had a heart attack. More accurately I should say that I was having a heart attack on Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu.

I want to share with you some of my thoughts and hope that it prompts you to ACTION or possibly to better re-think how you approach life.

Reflecting back I had some clues to my heat attack, but I ignored them. First let me give you a brief background. I am a healthy male 54 years old and weigh 139 pounds. I am not overweight – smoke no – drink no – family history no – exercise — could do more – healthy diet, low salt, low fat (maybe some cheese when I cook).

The clues, as I mentioned, on Monday I felt achy with no fever – I thought I had the flu or an infection in my lungs. On Tuesday, I still didn’t feel well and decided to go to a doctor. I was calling around to find a doctor that was in their office (By the way, I have been so healthy that my doctor had retired!) A doctor friend of mine said I should go to emergency. I had no medical insurance and I didn’t want to pay a huge medical bill. This was my FIRST CLUE – I had solid advice and I ignored it. The SECOND CLUE on Tuesday was I felt something was wrong and I was panicked and scared — Remember to always listen to your intuition, whether it is making a business decision or listening to your body for health reasons.

Now, I did go to Urgent Care on Tuesday — but I was mis-diagnosed. Eventually, after three days, I had more symptoms and went to Emergency. I thought I had the flu or a lung infection. The doctor said I had a heart attack and my response was, “REALLY?!”.

Ok, I am home and doing fine. Now the question is what can I do to help or inspire you? The signs for a heart attack can be so subtle. Some people have a LOT OF PAIN in their chest. Other people may feel they have indigestion. Each person is different AND the symptoms for woman are even more subtle. I am not a doctor and I am not here to give any medical advice.

I will post more thoughts this week, so check-in daily with my blog. ~Wayne