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Signs
of a Heart Attack
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It's vital that everyone learn the warning
signs of a heart attack. These are:
- Chest
discomfort. Most
heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest
that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and
comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable
pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Discomfort
in other areas of the upper body. Can include
pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck,
jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness
of breath. Often comes along with chest discomfort.
But it also can occur before chest discomfort.
- Other
symptoms. May
include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.
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These signs of
heart attack may look very different in someone who is non-verbal.
For example, the individual
who is non-verbal, may rub or reach for their chest, or may become
restless. Pain in areas of the upper body may also show as restlessness
or irritability.
The two signs
that may be most easily detected are shortness of breath or breaking
out in a cold sweat.
Direct
support
professionals:
- Do you know how
to measure the rate of someone’s
breathing?
- Do you know how
to observe for sweating and how to report your observations?
Nurses
and QMRPs:
- Do you include
signs and symptoms of heart attack in your initial training?
- Do
you regularly
review this information with your staff?
- Do you encourage
an atmosphere of “better safe than sorry” in your agency?
For more
information about preventing heart attacks
see:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/rhar/rhar.htm
From the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
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