Heart Disease Facts & Symptoms

Symptoms of a heart attack or stroke are important to understand and more important to act upon. When a person is experiencing one or more of the warning signs listed below, calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

Heart Attack Symptoms

Heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people wait too long before getting help. Here are some signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

1. Chest discomfort
2. Pain spreading to the jaw, shoulder, neck or arm
3. Shortness of breath
4. Nausea
5. Sweating or cold sweat

Stroke Symptoms

Learn to recognize a stroke and these warning signs:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Heart Disease Facts 

Heart disease poses a serious threat to women. Consider these important facts from the American Heart Association:

• 64% of women who die suddenly from heart disease have no previous symptoms
• Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women age 20 and over, but it is largely preventable
• 1 in 3 women has some form of cardiovascular disease
• Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 460,000 women each year, which is about one every minute
• More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer
• Only 1 in 5 women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat
• Heart disease can strike women at any age
• Cardiovascular disease is largely preventable
• Factors leading to heart disease can start in young women and develop over time
• Choosing to take care of our hearts can help us beat the No.1 killer of women
• Research shows that women who "Go Red" are more likely to make healthy choices