Heart Disease - Do You Know the Warning Signs?

Did you know that heart disease ranked as the number one cause of death before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S? To make matters worse, heart disease disproportionately affects African-American women at a higher rate than Caucasian women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6% of Mexican American women, 6.1% of white women, and 6.5% of African-American women have coronary heart disease (CDC 2017). Furthermore, almost two-thirds or 64% of women who did die suddenly from heart disease did not exhibit any warning signs, nor had previous symptoms.
The American Heart Association reports heart disease kills nearly 50,000 African-American women each year (AHA 2019). It is startling to learn the AHA reports most women are unaware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack (AHA 2019). It is especially important to understand the warning signs of a heart attack can be very different for women and men. Recognizing the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke can save your life or someone else’s. So, let’s get familiar with the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke.
Warning signs of a heart attack:
A feeling of uncomfortable pressure in the center of your chest
Squeezing-like sensations in the center of your chest (this feeling can last for a few minutes, go away, and come back)
Pain or numbness in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Sudden or frequent shortness of breath (with or without chest discomfort)
Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness
Feeling extreme fatigue like you want to take a nap
Shortness of breath, sudden or unexplained jaw pain, nausea, and vomiting, which may feel similar to indigestion
If you or a loved one experiences any of these signs or symptoms, it is important to first call 911. Then, get a baby aspirin and chew it. If possible, put the broken aspirin under the tongue, which can help with allowing the aspirin to enter the blood stream quicker.
Warning signs of a possible stroke: