last updated:
Saturday, 4-mar-06
|
|
Heart Attack Facts
Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack |
  |
If the blood supply to the
heart is cut off, a heart attack results. Cells in the
heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygen-carrying
blood begin to die. The more time that passes without
treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage
to the heart. Having high blood pressure or high blood
cholesterol, smoking, and having had a previous heart
attack, stroke or diabetes can increase a person’s
chances of developing heart disease and having a heart
attack.
|
According to the American Heart Association, about 700,000 Americans will have
an initial heart attack and another 500,000 will have a recurrent heart attack
in 2004.1 Almost half of people who have a heart attack will die
from it. According to a CDC report, almost half of the cardiac deaths in 1999
occurred before emergency services and hospital treatment could be administered.2
It is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack and to act immediately
by calling 911. A person’s chances of surviving a heart attack is increased
if emergency treatment is administered as soon as possible.
CDC’s Public Health Efforts: CDC currently
funds health departments in 32 states and the District
of Columbia to develop, implement, and evaluate cardiovascular
health promotion, disease prevention, and control
programs and to eliminate health disparities. The
programs emphasize the use of education, policies,
environmental strategies, and system changes to address
heart disease and stroke in various settings and
to ensure quality of care. For more information,
visit http://www.cdc.gov/cvh/stateprogram.htm. |
Need To
Know
A heart attack is a serious condition. But
early treatment can improve the outcome by
reducing the amount of heart muscle that
is damaged and decreasing or preventing complications
of a heart attack. Minutes count! If you
or someone you know suspects a heart attack,
get emergency medical help right away. |
 |
Symptoms
of a Heart Attack
The National Heart Attack Alert Program notes these
major signs of a heart attack:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve
discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts
for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes
back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable
pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Can
include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the
back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath. Often comes along with
chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest
discomfort.
Other symptoms. May include breaking out
in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.
If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack,
you should call 911 immediately. |
Heart Disease Information:
For more information on heart disease visit our Web site at
http://www.cdc.gov/cvh and
the Web sites of the following CDC partners:
|
Source & References:
American Heart Association. Heart and Stroke Statistics―2005
Update. Available at www.americanheart.org.* CDC. Health,
United States 2004. Available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm.
- American Heart Association. Heart Disease and
Stroke Statistics—2005 Update. Dallas, TX:
AHA, 2004. Available at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200026*.
Accessed May 17, 2005
- Zheng ZJ, Croft JB, Giles WH, Ayala CI, Greenlund
KJ, Keenan NL, Neff L, Wattigney WA, Mensah GA.
State-specific mortality from sudden cardiac death--United
States, 1999. MMWR 2002;51(6):123–126.
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5106a3.htm.
Accessed May 17, 2005
*Links to non–Federal organizations are provided solely as a service
to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by
CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not
responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found
at this link. |
|
|
|
|
