Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke

Know that not everyone gets all of the following warning signs of heart attack or stroke. And, sometimes these signs can go away and return. Treatments are most effective if given within one hour of when the attack begins. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away!

The signs of heart attack include:

• Chest discomfort or uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes, or comes and goes.

• Spreading pain to one or both arms, back, jaw, or stomach.

• Cold sweats and nausea.

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have some of the other warning signs, particularly shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain.

The signs of stroke include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

• Sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding speech.

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

• Blurred or double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting.