Warning Signs of a Heart Attack or Stroke

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

In Both Men and Women:

  • Squeezing chest pain or pressure
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Tightness in chest
  • Pain spreading to shoulders, neck, arm, or jaw
  • Feeling of heartburn or indigestion with or without nausea and vomiting
  • Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness

Symptoms More Likely in Women:

  • Indigestion or gas-like pain
  • Dizziness or nausea
  • Unexplained weakness or fatigue
  • Discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades
  • Recurring chest discomfort
  • Sense of impending doom

Your Action Plan:

  • Call 911 immediately
  • Provide one aspirin to chew. Heart attacks are caused by blood clots in heart arteries, and aspirin helps reduce these clots.
  • Give CPR if the patient is not breathing. Learn about Hands-Only CPR »

Get to the hospital quickly. The longer it takes to get treated, the more badly damaged the heart will be.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency. Remember the F.A.S.T. warning signs of stroke and teach them to others.

  • F is for Face – One side of the face looks different or droopy
  • A is for Arms – Can’t hold both arms out straight and even
  • S is for Speech – Trouble repeating a simple sentence
  • T is for Time – Get to Emergency immediately

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience symptoms; time lost is brain lost!