Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation’s No. 1 killer. To urge Americans to join the battle against these diseases, Congress has required the president to proclaim February “American Heart Month.”
Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. Locally in 2013, 203 women and 194 men died from coronary heart disease. That represents 36% of the deaths in Richland County (excludes Shelby).
That’s why it’s important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body can occur too. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness, or shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
Regarding a stroke, warn signs include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs for either a heart attack or a stroke, don’t delay. Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. The faster you can get medical care the better chances are for both survival and decreasing the bad side effects.
Forty-three individuals died from strokes in Richland County in 2013, tied for sixth as the leading killer locally behind heart disease, cancer, lung diseases, Alzheimer’s/dementia, and flu/pneumonia and tied with renal/kidney failure.