HHS launches heart attack awareness campaign for women

Washington – Many women are unable to recognize the signs of a heart attack and only one-half would call 911 if they thought they were having one, indicates a 2009 American Heart Association survey.

In light of these findings, the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health introduced a new initiative Feb. 1 geared toward increasing awareness of common heart attack symptoms in women, and encouraging use of emergency services when these symptoms are detected.

The “Make the Call, Don’t Miss a Beat” campaign encourages women to immediately call 911 if they feel any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain, discomfort or squeezing
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
• Unusual upper body pain, or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach
• Unusual fatigue
• Breaking out in a cold sweat

The survey found that very few women recognized these conditions as symptoms of a heart attack. The new campaign also includes public service announcements and outreach via community resources and social media.