by Miles Morley, Legal Assistant
The good news is that a number of deaths from cardiovascular disease can be prevented through healthier habits, living spaces, and management of health conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a number of recommendations for better health and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. You can decrease your risk by having a checkup with your doctor at least once a year and monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol. They also recommend maintaining a healthy weight through exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and quitting or lessening exposure to tobacco smoke.
The American Heart Association has a listing of warning signs for a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest. They recommend contacting 9-1-1 if any of the warning signs are present. A heart attack is often forecast by:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
A stroke is often indicated by:
- A drooping or numbness in one side of the face (can be tested by asking a person to smile);
- Weakness or numbness in one arm (ask the person to raise their arms and look for downward drifting on one side); and/or,
- An inability to speak or slurred speech.
Cardiac arrest is often shown through a sudden loss of responsiveness and loss of normal breathing.
All of the above are emergencies where every second counts. A timely response can substantially impact a victim’s chance of survival and reduce potential complications.
