Heart Attack
Heart attack is the number one killer of adults over the age of 38. Many heart attack victims die needlessly because they do not get help in time.
A heart attack is usually caused by hardening of the arteries to the heart. It may occur suddenly or after prolonged angina (intermittent, insufficient blood supply to the hear muscle). It also occurs when there's insufficient oxygen in the blood to the heart. Many medical illnesses, as well as drug abuse (especially cocaine), can contribute to a heart attack.
- Signs and Symptoms include:
- Severe squeezing pains in the chest.
- Pain that radiates from the chest into the left arm or the neck.
- Sweating and weakness.
- Pain that extends across the shoulders and the back.
- If the victim is experiencing any of these sensations take no chances. Check the ABC's (airway, breathing, and circulation) and call for Emergency Help at once.
- Two critical life threatening things happen to the victim of a heart attack:
- Breathing slows down or stops.
- The heart slows down or stops pumping blood.
- If the ABC's are not present, if qualified, begin CPR after calling for help. If the victim is not breathing, give rescue breathing immediately. If you cannot detect a heart beat by taking a pulse either at the wrist of the carotid artery provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)*. CPR should be given to the victim along with rescue breathing only by a person properly trained and certified.
If the ABC's are present, loosen clothing and stay with the victim until help arrives.
*Learn CPR. CPR is a way of forcing the heart to continue pumping blood (carrying oxygen) through the lungs and out to the rest of the body where it is needed if life is to be sustained. CPR is too complicated to be taught from printed pages alone. Free four hour courses are offered by The American Heart Association and The American Red Cross. Many medical authorities agree that everyone high school age and above should learn both CPR and Rescue Breathing.
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