SPOT TROUBLE BEFORE IT HAPPENS
Heart attacks may result from clogged arteries serving the heart, which deprive the heart muscle of the oxygen and nourishment it needs to survive. When this occurs, you could experience angina, have a heart attack or experience a stroke. Angina is actually a warning that your heart is not well. The symptoms of angina are chest pain and anxiety. If you are experiencing chest pains, you should call 911 and get to an emergency room immediately.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK
Heart attacks are caused by a lack of oxygenated blood in your heart. For some people, this condition can be fatal. In other cases, a person can live a long time after a heart attack by making changes in lifestyle.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Often times, those having a heart attack aren't sure they are having one, and tend to wait before getting help. If you have any of the following warning signs, call 911 immediately! Do not drive yourself to the hospital, and do not delay treatment. And while daily aspirin therapy can be beneficial in heart attack prevention, chewing Halfprin® 162 during a suspected heart attack can help save your life. In fact, one of the benefits of 162mg is that it's the dose recommended for consumption at the onset of a heart attack to improve odds of survival and to minimize damage. (11)
Warning Signs:
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Discomfort in one or both arms, neck, back, jaw or stomach
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
- Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back (18)
The most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain or discomfort, but women may also experience other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, jaw or back pain and fatigue.
Knowing the warning signs can save your life. If you are experiencing one of these symptoms, take action right away. Call 911 if you suspect you are having a heart attack.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU ARE HAVING A STROKE
A stroke occurs when insufficient amounts of blood reach your brain. This may affect your mental and physical functions and in some cases, paralysis is possible.
Warning Signs:
- Weakness or numbness in your arms, legs or face, particularly on one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking or seeing
- Partial paralysis
- Sudden and severe headaches with no known causes (18)
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, be sure to call 911 immediately. Note the time the first symptom appeared. It's important to take action right away, as these symptoms should be treated as warnings.
WARNING
While daily aspirin therapy can contribute toward stroke prevention, taking aspirin during a stroke does not necessarily increase chances of survival. If you are having a stroke, taking aspirin isn't advised because not all strokes are caused by blood clots. While clots cause most strokes, some are caused by ruptured blood vessels. Taking aspirin could potentially make these bleeding strokes more severe. (24)
A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a warning or mini stroke that produces the same symptoms as a stroke, but without the lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIA can reduce the risk of having a major stroke. (19)
