Pay attention to warning signs our body gives us. Strokes and heart attacks often come with early symptoms, but they’re easy to brush off if you’re not aware.
For heart attacks, some of the common early signs are:
- Chest discomfort – not always sharp pain, but pressure, squeezing, or tightness.
- Pain in arms, neck, jaw, or back – especially if it’s unusual or comes on suddenly.
- Shortness of breath – even with light activity or while resting.
- Cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness – especially if it happens out of nowhere.
For strokes, the signs can come on quickly:
- Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body.
- Slurred speech or trouble understanding others.
- Sudden confusion or severe headache with no clear reason.
- Trouble seeing or walking – dizziness, loss of balance, etc.
What I’ve learned is: If something feels off in your body and it’s new or sudden, don’t ignore it. It’s always better to get checked out than wait.
____________
In an emergency, call 9 1 1
