| More Americans die from cardiovascular disease than any other single cause. And unknown to most people, it is not an "old persons" disease. Consider the following statistics from the American Heart Association regarding the total number of heart attacks in America by age group (1987 - 1994): - Ages 29 - 44: 41,000
- Ages 45 - 64: 292,000
- Ages 65 and over: 774,000
30% of heart attack victims were between the ages of 29 and 64. No matter how young or old you are, it is critical to monitor and co ntrol your cardiovascular risk factors. Young or old, it is also vital to know the common
symptoms of a heart attack so that you can react in a timely manner. Common warning signs of a heart attack for "men": - Severe to moderate chest pain
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Radiating pain in the arms and chest
"Women" need to pay particular attention to their warning signs because they are often very different than a man. Chest pain is often a key warning sign that you are having a heart attack. However, almost 2/3 of women who have a heart attack do not experience chest pain. Their pain, if any, is usually in the right back, arm, neck, shoulder, and throat. Also, women will typically have more "non-pain" symptoms than men. These include: - Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
For this reason, women often fai l to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack and arrive at an emergency
room on average 18 minutes later than men. Should you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to get to an emergency room as fast as possible. Immediately call 911 or have someone bring you to the nearest hospital. Heart muscle begins to die with the onset of a heart attack, and the longer treatment is delayed, the more muscle is lost.It is very dangerous to ignore the warning signs of an impending cardiac event, and the price that can be paid is dear indeed. |
