Possible Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke
Knowing when to take fast action can help save lives.
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease refers to a number of conditions affecting
the heart and its arteries.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common
type of heart disease. With CAD the hardening and
narrowing of arteries make it difficult for the heart to
receive blood. It can lead to angina (chest pain or
discomfort) and is the leading cause of heart attack and
a major risk factor for ischemic stroke.
Arrhythmia, or a change in the heart's normal beat, is
increasingly common as we age. While you shouldn't panic
if you have a few
flutters or your heart
races once in a
while, you should
call 911 if you have
those and other
symptoms, including
dizziness or
shortness of breath.
CAD, high blood
pressure and other
conditions can lead
to an arrhythmia.
Heart Failure
means the heart isn't
pumping enough
blood throughout
the body. The resulting fatigue and shortness of breath
may make walking and other everyday activities difficult.
Persistent coughing or wheezing; nausea; swelling in the
feet, legs and abdomen and impaired thinking are other
possible signs of heart failure.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is similar to CAD, but
typically occurs in the arteries of the pelvis and legs.
While you may not have symptoms, the most typical sign
is painful cramping in the hips, thighs or calves while
walking, climbing stairs or exercising. Pain usually stops
within a few minutes of ending the activity. PAD increases
your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Head and Neck
You may feel light-headed
and/or have pain in your neck
or jaw. Men are less likely than
women to have jaw pain.
Chest
Uncomfortable pressure,
squeezing, fullness or
pain in the chest -- the
most common symptom
-- may last more than a
few minutes or go away
and come back.
Arms and Back
You may feel pain or
discomfort in one or
both arms and your
back. Men are less
likely than women to
feel back pain.
Lungs
Shortness of breath can
occur with or without
chest discomfort and
is more common in
women than men.
Skin
You may
break into a
cold sweat.
Stomach
You may feel pain or
discomfort in your
stomach and experience
nausea/vomiting.
Stroke
Symptoms
Cognitive
You may suddenly
experience trouble
walking, dizziness
or loss of balance
or coordination.
Sudden confusion
and trouble speaking
or understanding also
can occur.
Head
You may get a sudden,
severe headache with no
known cause and have
sudden trouble seeing in
one or both eyes. Sudden
numbness or weakness
of the face may occur,
especially on one side.
A visible droop may
be seen in the lips or
other area.
Arms and Legs
Sudden numbness or
weakness of the arms
or legs, especially on
one side of the body,
may occur.
Heart Care You Can Count On
Our cardiac services can help you take care of your
heart, including a heart event or recovering from one.
Change of Heart Cardiac
Rehabilitation Program
This patient-centered program
emphasizes an individualized approach
to recovery, with key components focused
on exercise, education and encouragement.
The program is available to
anyone with coronary heart disease, by
physician referral.
For more information, please call 580-249-5581.
Got Gunk? Find Out.
Our noninvasive heart-imaging test, the CT coronary
angiogram, looks inside the heart to determine
whether fatty or calcium deposits, called plaque, have
built up in the coronary arteries, which supply blood
to the heart muscle. If left untreated, plaque can clog
the arteries and lead to heart attack, stroke and other
coronary diseases.
For more information, please call 580-249-3026.
Women's Cardiovascular Program
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of
women. Our Women's Cardiovascular Heart Center,
the only one of its kind in the Enid area, is one of
only a few in the nation.
We help women at risk for heart disease and those
who have been diagnosed. Our comprehensive risk
assessment includes a questionnaire to help us
evaluate the patient's personal health and heart health.
Then, we create a personal risk profile for heart disease
that includes educational and motivational tools.
To schedule your heart screening, please call
580-249-5581.
Need Help Finding a cardiologist or an other physician?
Please call the Direct DoctorsSM Plus referral line at 580-249-3741.
