June 1, 2009

Heart attacks are the No. 1 cause of death for Americans. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced or stopped. It can happen any time, any place – to anyone.

Women often believe they aren’t as vulnerable to heart attack as men, but women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths.* Their symptoms can be overlooked because they do not always create the dramatic chest-clutching scenes we see in movies. The most common symptom for both men and women is chest pain, but other symptoms include:

• Discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath or breaking out in a cold sweat.\
• Nausea or light-headedness.

Take action: Dial 911 if someone has any of these symptoms for more than a few minutes. Emergency medical services professionals will arrive quickly to begin treatment to help prevent permanent heart damage or death. They’ll also call ahead to the hospital to make sure the Emergency Room is ready.

* Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Read more life-saving tips in the summer issue of Today's Healthy Outlook, a free wellness publication from INTEGRIS Grove General Hospital.