Suffering a cardiac event is not a sure death sentence, but time is of the essence. The sooner victims receive medical attention, the better their chances for a life-saving intervention. Some medications and therapies can even help stop a heart attack or stroke in progress. To be most effective, these therapies should be administered within one hour of the onset of symptoms.
Women account for more than half of the annual fatalities from heart attack and stroke and that their warning signs may be more subtle or differ completely from those in men. Women, for example, are more likely to experience nausea and dizziness than men are; men more often feel pain in the center of the chest.
The American Heart Association advises that you call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience or witness someone else experiencing these warning signs of heart attack and stroke:
Signs of heart attack in Women
Sudden, uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain, usually in the center of the chest that lasts for more than five minutes
Pain in the chest that radiates out to the shoulders, back, neck, jaw, stomach, or one or both arms
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, and vomiting
Signs of stroke in Women
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause