You may think you know about heart disease, but are you aware of signs of a heart attack? And are you ready to help someone who is having a heart attack?

Here is information that can help.

Coronary heart disease, also referred to as coronary artery disease, is a condition marked by narrowing of small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

Well-recognized signs of heart disease include chest pain or numbness of the arm, but symptoms can also be very subtle. Although the body typically gives warning signals ahead of time that there may be a problem, these red flags are often dismissed until a major event such as a heart attack occurs. Other symptoms of possible heart attack that are often ignored or attributed to other causes include shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, palpitations, fainting, sweating, indigestion/nausea/vomiting, or heartburn-like symptoms.

Women’s symptoms

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women and studies show that classic symptoms can be different than for men. A group of 515 women aged 29-97 who had survived a recent heart attack were asked to describe their symptoms. The majority (95 percent) reported that their main symptoms were sleep disturbances and excessive fatigue in the weeks before the heart attack. More than one-third reported feeling unusually anxious, 57 percent felt discomfort in the chest, and 43 percent noted no chest pains at all during the event. For those who reported feeling pain, the main location was either the back, between or under the shoulder blades, or the upper chest area. For some, pain was located in the jaw, neck or upper abdominal area.

Helping others

In addition to becoming aware of signs of heart attack, it is important to be ready to help others. Cardiac arrest refers to a very sudden, abrupt loss of heart function. During cardiac arrest the person loses consciousness, pulse and blood pressure drop, and normal breathing function is lost. Immediate action must be taken during cardiac emergencies, so if you see someone in distress, call for help by dialing 911. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can help keep the person alive until emergency help arrives. Thankfully, cardiac arrest can be reversed if it is treated within a few minutes with an electric shock to the heart (defibrillation) to restore normal heartbeat. In cities where defibrillation is provided within 5 to 7 minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is as high as 49 percent.

Risk factors

Smoking: Your risk of heart attack doubles if you smoke.

Sedentary lifestyle: It is well known that moderate to vigorous physical activity can help prevent heart and blood-vessel disease.

High blood cholesterol: As blood cholesterol increases, so does your risk of coronary heart disease.

Being overweight: Individuals who carry extra body fat, especially around the middle, seem to be more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they do not have other risk factors.

Diabetes: This is a serious condition affecting how the body uses food energy (glucose). Diabetes greatly increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke, and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States

Risk factors for heart disease that cannot be changed include heredity, age and race. Researchers continue to study the effects of stress and alcohol consumption on the heart.

Marjie Gilliam is an International Sports Sciences master certified personal trainer and fitness consultant. She owns Custom Fitness Personal Training Services, LLC. Write to her in care of the Dayton Daily News, call her at (937) 878-9018 or send email to marjie@ohtrainer.com.