In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we would like to talk about a topic that can potentially save someone’s life: recognizing the signs of a heart attack or stroke. A heart attack happens when the flow of blood that brings oxygen to a part of your heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked.

Signs of a heart attack include:

• A feeling of discomfort in the center of the chest that can last more than a few minutes, or it may go away and then return. The discomfort can feel like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Persons can also feel discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath is common with or without chest discomfort.
• Other possible signs include a cold sweat, nausea, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and feeling unusually tired or lightheaded.

Do not wait to get help if you or someone you know has any sign of a heart attack. Even if you are not sure if it is a heart attack, call 9-1-1 right away. Some people feel it would be embarrassing to have a “false alarm.” Others are so afraid of having a heart attack that they tell themselves they aren’t having one. These feelings are easy to understand, but they’re also very dangerous. Call 9-1-1 and get help right away.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.

The acronym F.A.S.T – FAST – can be used to remember the most common signs of stroke.

• F is for face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Is the person's smile uneven?
• A is for arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Is one arm weak or numb? Does one arm drift downward?
• S is for speech difficulty. Ask the person to say their name. Is speech slurred?
• T is for time to call 911. If the person is experiencing signs of stroke, call 911 right away. Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts. Note the time when any of the symptoms first appear.

Other stroke symptoms can include:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and
• Severe headache with no known cause.

If someone is having a stroke, it’s critical to get them medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and prevent death. Call 911 right away.

Visit our website at www.meridenhealth.com for more information on heart health. You can also join a local challenge by watching a brief video on how to do hands-only CPR and answering 2 questions. Our goal is to have as many Meriden residents as possible watch the video for American Heart Month. If you have any questions please reach out to our office at 203-630-4221.