!Heart Attack

What is heart attack?
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Both men and women have heart attacks. Heart attack happens when
blood flow to the heart is blocked for a long enough time that
part of the heart muscle begins to die. This is usually caused
by heart disease.

Signs
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 * Pressure, squeezing, tightness, burning, pain, or a full
   feeling in the chest
 * The pain may spread to the neck, shoulder, arms, teeth, or
   jaw
 * The pain usually comes on gradually, but sometimes can be
   sudden and intense
 * Shortness of breath
 * Sweating
 * Nausea
 * Feeling lightheaded

Chest pain is the most common sign for both men and women, but
women more often do not feel chest pain. Instead they feel
shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, or back or jaw
pain.

Treatment
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Give 1 tablet of aspirin right away (300 to 325 mg). Ask the
person to chew it up and swallow it with water. Even if you are
not sure the person is having a heart attack, aspirin will do no
harm.

If you have it, give nitroglycerin dissolved under the tongue.
Morphine helps with the pain and fear. Reassure the person and
get help.

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from NEW WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR ©
Hesperian Health Guides 1919 Addison St Ste 304 Berkeley CA 94704
1.510.845.1447 hesperian@hesperian.org
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