Heart Attacks
by Amgad Wahba, RN, PhD.
Heart attack warning signs for women are different than they are for men and can be far more subtle. Below are some symptoms to look for:
- A feeling of breathlessness, often without chest pain of any kind.
- Flu-like symptoms- especially nausea, clamminess or cold sweats.
- Unexplained fatigue, weakness or dizziness.
- Pain in the chest, epigastric pain, upper back, shoulders, neck or jaw.
- Feelings of anxiety.
Don't take a chance. If you experience one or more of these warning signs, don't wait long before calling for help.
Call 9-1-1 and ask to be taken to the hospital. Most emergency rooms will determine within minutes of arrival if you are having a heart attack. Every minute counts. Do not delay. Here is why:
- During a heart attack, the blood supply to the heart is blocked. The longer it stays that way, the greater the potential damage and risk of death. Artery opening procedures and treatments are most effective if performed within an hour of the first symptoms.
- Statistics show that most people wait two or more hours after symptoms begin before seeking help- meaning permanent heart damage or death( 1/2 of all who wait).
Amgad Wahba, RN, PhD.
Amgad Wahba, RN, PhD is a nurse educator and has been a Congregational Nurse with the Christ Fellowship HealthCare Advocacy Ministry for three years.
