For Immediate Release: March 15, 2010

Online Medical Supplies Superstore Ships 1 Millionth Order

 AllegroMedical.com, the online medical supplies superstore, announced that is has reached the 1 million customer mark, meaning that just under 13 years, it has served more than a million customers nationwide.

 Mesa, AZ – March 15, 2010 – Allegro Medical has announced that it has now shipped 1 million orders since its website launched in 1997. The first company to sell medical supplies online, it has grown to become the largest online supplier of home health care products. Its diverse product line ranges from simple items such as latex exam gloves to orthopedic devices and wheelchairs.

 Allegro makes it easy for shoppers to find and buy top-quality medical products and have them delivered directly to their home or business. The company offers a broad range of durable medical equipment from top brands for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, commodes, walkers, ramps, shower chairs and more. Medical supplies such as catheters, wound care supplies, ostomy supplies and dietary supplements are also among the thousands of items for sale on Allegro Medical’s website.

 “We’ve come a long way since 1997.  And we owe it all to our hard working team and the ever increasing population of web shoppers,” said Craig Hood, President/CEO of Allegro Medical.  “People are surprised to learn that most of our online customers are age 60+.”  

 “For a caregiver, nothing is more important than easy access to medical supplies. Patients recovering from strokes, surgeries or serious accidents demand the best in quality care products, from a bath safety aid to a knee brace, and they are finding them at Allegro. If we continue to grow at our current pace, it won’t be long before we ship another million orders.”

 Allegro’s ecommerce site offers other products for the medical equipment and home healthcare supplies industry, such as health and fitness, weight loss dietary supplements, pain relief, maternity care, adult diapers and Over-the-Counter medications. It also sells products for emergency preparation. All of the company’s products are searchable by keyword, category, brand, and by medical condition.

About Allegro Medical

 With 45,000 medical supplies available on their website, Allegro Medical offers their customers both value and variety.  The online superstore is also known for stellar customer service and speedy home delivery.  For more information, please visit AllegroMedical.com.

People are asking, “How can I help the earthquake victims?” Medical supply and medical equipment donations are your way of ensuring that these critical products reach those in need of medical help.  You are essentially helping to save lives.  To find donation sites in your area, google “medical supplies donation sites (your city or state)”. 

Sources from state and local organizations nationwide are asking for the following medical supplies:

Exam Gloves - Save 40% on a box of 100 Invacare Powder-Free Vinyl Exam Gloves.  Only $5.95.  Save even more on boxes of 1000.  Save 27% on Sterile Surgical Gloves.

See all discounted Surgical Medical Supplies

Wound Care Supplies  – Save 25% or more on Bandages, Wound Care Dressings, Gauze, and Tape.

Syringes & Needles - Save 40% or more on Needle/Syringe Combos, Hypodermic Needles, Sharps Disposal and Syringes.

Alcohol Wipes & Prep Solutions - Save 51% on alcohol prep pads.

Elastic Bandages, Splinting & Casting Supplies - All shapes and sizes of orthotic and orthopedic supplies are needed. 

Hand Sanitizers, Antiseptics and Disinfectants - Save on all sanitizing medical supplies.

See all Personal Protection medical supplies.

Emergency Medical Supplies - Save 60% and more on Disaster Relief and Disaster Prep medical supplies including First Aid Kits, Hygiene Supplies, and Emergency Water and Water Purification Equipment

Condition related medical supplies are also needed including Catheters, Incontinence, Ostomy Supplies and Diabetic Supplies.  Nothing is too specific.

The list of medical products needed does not end with just medical supplies.  Durable medical equipment  is also in short supply in Haiti.  For larger donations see Walkers, Canes, Crutches, Wheelchairs, Ramps, Heart Defibrillators and Bathroom Assists.

How can you help?  Join the thousands of people supporting the humanitarian efforts in Haiti by donating medical supplies to your local donation sites.  Your donation will not be in vain and no donation is too small.  Every bit will help. 

Thank you for being an Allegro customer.

How do you know you have the flu versus a cold?  

You know you have the flu when you get sick suddenly, have a fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue.  You also may have a dry cough, sore throat and nasal congestion.  It will hit you like a ton of bricks, and if left untreated you could suffer for up to 10 days.  Best to get a flu shot and try to avoid it.   Remember to eliminate or avoid contact with people as soon as you start feeling flu symptoms, and remain indoors for at least 24 hours after your fever has passed to avoid spreading the virus.

You know you have a cold if you get sick gradually.  You will probably not have a fever.  Muscle aches will likely be minor if at all, but you might have congestion, a sore throat and a cough with mucus.  Most likely you’ll be sick for less than a week.

H1N1 Swine Flu Product Recommendations

60-Second Digital Thermometer, Fahrenheit- Fever is a tell-tale sign that you have the flu versus the common cold.  Check for fever quickly and acturately with this digital thermometer.  Use Thermometer Probe Covers for extra sanitation and germ control.   Here at Allegro, we use the Single-Use Clinical Thermometers to check the temperatures of any employees who may be coming down with the flu.  These thermometers are disposable and very handy this flu season for schools and businesses.

See all Thermometers

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Flu Remedies – Feel better with Mucinex,  Nasal Sprays, fever reducers and pain relievers like Ibuprofin, Tri-Buffered Asprin and Acetaminophen,  cough syrups, zinc lozenges and more.

See all OTC Medications

See all Cold and Flu Products

Hot/Cold Therapy Wrap – Chill or heat the removable gel pack and then insert it into the pocket on this versatile scarf-like therapy product for quick relief of headaches and muscle aches.  Also great for sprains, strains, swelling and other minor problems.  Just wrap, tie and relax.

See all Pain Relief Products

Cool Care Comfort System Chillow Pak - Two cooling pillows – one for use inside your pillow case and the other cools anywhere from both sides.  Perfect fever relief.  Also great for hot flashes and night sweats.

Emergen-C- Super popular energy booster.  32 mineral complexes, antioxidants and other micro-nutrients plus 1000mgs of Vitamin C as 7 mineral ascorbates.  Rev up your immune system while you’re waiting for that flu shot.   Non-caffinated.  How about Emergen-C Kidz for the Kids?

See all Emergen-C

H1N1 Protection and Swine Flu Prevention Products

N95 Respirator Masks with Free Iso-Tek Ear-Loop Masks – Get 70 masks for the price of 20 with this special offer.  Affordable disposable protection against the H1N1 Virus.  Meets or exceeds the CDC and WHO recommendations for flu prevention. 

N95 Particulate Respirator Mask with Vent - Box of 10.  Our most popular mask this flu season.  Adjustable nose piece and inner foam provide a custom seal for different facial sizes.

See all Swine Flu Products.  Find Hospital Grade H1N1 Flu Products including Gloves, Hand Sanitizers, Masks / Respiratory Products, and Surface Disinfectants from major brands.

Note:  Help your community common areas, schools and businesses prepare for the H1N1 Flu virus by having the proper medical supplies on hand.  Forward this buyers guide information to those who are in charge of purchasing and preparedness!

Stay well!!

Respirator masks are very difficult to find because the April 2009 threat of the H1N1 Swine Flu virus caused the US supply of masks to sell out in just a few days.  Due to the current preparation for what is now refered to as Novel Influenza A or Novel H1N1, we believe that these masks will sell out quickly. 

Also available for sale are hospital-grade disinfectants for clinical and household use.  See our Swine Flu Protection Products and our Cold/Flu Season Medical Supplies to order online.

Who Needs Facemasks and/or N95 Respirators?

Dated August 5, 2009, here are the CDC Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use for Home, Community, and Occupational Settings for Non-Ill Persons to Prevent Infection with Novel H1N1.

If Novel H1N1 is in your Community:

• In unavoidable crowded settings, if you are at increased risk of severe illness from influenza (high risk persons) you should consider a facemask or respirator.

• If you work in a non-healthcare environment a facemask/respirator is not recommended but could be considered under certain circumstances for both non-high risk persons and high-risk persons.

Home

• If you are a caregiver to someone in your home with a flu-like illness, use a facemask or respirator.

Health Care Workers

• If your occupation is in health care and you are caring for people with known, probable or suspected novel H1N1 or influenza-like illness, and you are in the non-high risk category, you should still wear a respirator mask. 

• If you are in the high-risk category, you should consider temporary reassignment or wear a respirator mask.

Source: Table 1.  

Here are the CDC Interim Recommendations For Facemask Use For Persons Ill With Confirmed, Probable, Or Suspected Novel Influenza A (H1N1) To Prevent Transmission Of Novel H1N1

Facemask preferred, if available and tolerable, or tissue to cover cough/sneeze if you are in these settings:

• Home Sharing Commmon Space with Others
• Health Care Settings (When Outside of Patient’s Room)
• Non-Healthcare Setting
• Breastfeeding

See Table 2

We hope you stay healthy through this flu season.  Let us know if there is anything we can get for you.

Thank you for being an AllegroMedical.com customer.  We appreciate your business.

Don’t Jack the Back, Mac

What kid wants to be walking around with a messed up spine when they’re ten? As a parent, you’ll have one less thing to worry about if you get them an Airpack Ergonomic Back-Saving Backpack.  These things are amazing. They’re cool, trendy, ergonomic AND healthy. Plus they have compartments, zippers, hidey holes, bells and whistles galore.

Airpacks backpacks patented design redistributes weight from the shoulders to the hips and lower back, thereby lightening the effective weight of the pack by 50%. Stress on the body is reduced by a whopping 80% because the design promotes a more upright standing position. Airpacks come in small, medium, large and mesh and are sized to fit by height (or torso length). Great for students of all ages and yes, that means adult students too.

Even if you’ve already invested in a backpack, you may consider swapping it out for one with back saving technology. Did I mention that it makes you stand up straight? The bonuses never end.

Stop Missin’ the Bus, Gus

(school morning dialog without the Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock):
Time to wake up! Sweetie, get up… Get up, please. C’mon now, up, up, up. You’re going to be late for school…. (5 minutes later) Don’t make me come in there. Get…up…NOW.

(school morning dialog WITH the Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock):
Well, aren’t you on the ball today! Holy moley, you’re dressed already. What a great kid. (smiles, whistling, high fives ensue)

Having a hard time waking them up? Fear not. Blast ‘em out of bed with a Sonic Bomb alarm clock. There’s even a Sonic Boom Sweetheart Alarm Clock to wake your sleeping beauty.

Really, they’re not as scary as they sound and we sell a ton of them so they must work. Allegro Medical product manager Mike Benge wakes up to the Sonic Bomb every morning.  He says, “It’s like a freight train coming at me. Lights are flashing, the bed is shaking, and the sound is like nothing you’ve ever heard.”

You can set these clocks to do all kinds of things – loud or not so much. I have the Portable Vibrating Travel Alarm that gently vibrates my pillow so I don’t wake up all freaked out. Ahhhhh. No noise – but I could add noise if I wanted.  And for all you do, Soccer Mom, you deserve a nice gradual awakening with the Sunrise Alarm Clock.  

Hate running to catch the bus?  How about chasing your alarm clock instead?  This one jumps from the nightstand and runs away.  Seriously!  It’s called the Chrome Clocky Mobile Alarm Clock.  Makes a great gift.

See all Sonic Alert products

See all Alarm Clocks

Quit Wettin’ the Bed, Fred

The start of a new school year is stressful for everyone, but even more so for families with bed wetters. Besides the lack of sleep and overall frustration you’re ALL feeling, your child is also likely dealing with significant emotional and social issues associated with bed wetting.

If you are tired of the stress (and mess), you should try the Nite Train’r Bedwetting Alarm as a training tool.

The Nite Train’r is a device that sets off an alarm to awaken the child when just a drop or two of urine hits the sensor pad, worn in the child’s undergarments. There’s a Nite Train’r for Males and a Nite Train’r for Females.

Crissy, an Allegro customer from Fullerton, CA says, “Our six year old son never had dry nights, even as a preschooler. He is a very sound sleeper, but after two nights he began waking up to the alarm…he has had three dry nights during the third week of use.”

Don’t wait until you’re at the end of your rope. Hopefully the Nite Train’r is the answer you’ve been looking for, and you can remove bedwetting from the list of stressors in the morning rush to school.

See all bedwetting products.

No more Starvin’, Marvin

It’s no secret that kids don’t always eat right. At least when they are home, you can do a better job of monitoring it. Once they’re off to school it’s anyone’s bet. If you know, or suspect, or have been told that little Suzy is not getting enough calories, there is a simple answer. Supplement their meals with balanced shakes, juice drinks or puddings. We have a complete selection of Child Nutrition products – our most popular being Pediasure, Nutren Junior, Resource Just for Kids and Boost Pudding.

These products cover picky eaters, skinny kids, special needs, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, reduced appetite, super-active, low-weight, chronic illnesses, short-term illnesses, mal-nutrition – pretty much everything. There’s no reason for you to worry every day about Junior getting enough to eat. Kids love this stuff.

 Be Ready, Mama Betty

School time means toting kids around. Sometimes toting other people’s kids around. Even if you’re not driving with kids, we all need to pay attention to this. Are you prepared for an emergency? Here is a checklist of things you need in your car in case you’re stranded or in an accident:

Don’t dilly dally. Order now. It’s easy.  I hope you never, ever have to use this emergency stuff, but it pays to be ready. And believe me, when you need a rescue blanket or a side window breaker, you’re not only glad you have it, but it could save your life.

Don’t Sneeze Up the Goo, Drew

Preparing for the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus – or just flu season in general?  Check our Swine Flu Category for available products (several are still back-ordered from the last break-out).  Meantime, make sure you have plenty of hand sanitizers to squirt on those little germy fingers, and surface disinfectants for your counters, bannisters, keyboards, etc.

Have a nice day. Be safe. Eat your greens. And thanks for being an Allegro Medical customer. We appreciate your business.

Ohhhhh, the queasy stomachs, the back pain, butt pain, boo boos, bathroom breaks, fussy babies . . .

Every trip has its ups and downs.  Minimize your downs with these

10 Best Car Travel Aids:

Coccyx Cushions – The hottest selling products in our travel aids category are the cushions.  That’s because we have such smart customers.  Sitting too long on your bottom will wreak havoc on your spine, sometimes causing serious back pain.  Relieve the pressure and maximize the comfort with a coccyx cushion.  Great for car, office and home.  Another great product for the driver is the Dream Foam Head Rest Pillow.

Queasy Drops Kids - Developed by health care professionals for queasy stomachs these lollies are perfect for kids prone to motion sickness.  They’re all natural.  Assorted flavors. 

See all Queasy Pops and Drops 

 Deluxe Swivel Seat Cushion - This cushion swivels, helping you to help people get in and out of the car safely.  Prevents back and hip strain during transfers.  Lightweight and portable.  Another product like this is the easy to use Car Slide.

TravelJohn Disposable Urinal – For when you really have to go and there isn’t a bathroom in sight – or it’s nasty or inaccessible.  Can be used by men, women and children – standing or sitting.  Neat, huh.

Car Caddie Helping Hand - Offers a helping hand for getting out of cars, trucks or vans.

Handybar 3 in 1 Car Aid - Every single car should have one of these within reach of the passengers.  I bought one for everyone in my family for Christmas.  It could save your life.  The 3 – in 1 Car Aid features an emergency  seat belt cutter, side window breaker and arm support for exiting the vehicle. 

Eye Pillow with ergoBeads - Okay, for sure this eye pillow is not for the driver, but the passengers will love it when they’re trying to nap.  It keeps out the light plus it cools and soothes your eyes.  For maximum comfort add a neck cushion!

Car Seat Belt Cushion – Extra padding for pregnant drivers or people who don’t like seat belts.

Dream Ride SE Infant Car Bed- Super affordable and highly praised, this infant car bed is perfect to keep newborn’s developing organs un-scrunched during travel.

See all infant car seats

Disposable Underpads – These absorbent little seat protectors are inexpensive and could save your car seats from all kinds of disasters.  Get a pack.  You’ll especially thank me if you have kids or dogs.  

We hope you have safe and happy travels all year long.  Speaking of safety, here’s your bonus product:  Emergency First Aid Auto Kit.

And do me a favor (besides ordering something):  When you write a postcard to someone be sure to say, “The weather is here.  Wish you were beautiful!”  That always cracks me up.

What is the difference between a Cardiac Arrest and a Heart Attack? A heart attack is caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle, causing it to begin to die.  Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms – abnormalities in the heart’s electrical system.  The most common arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation. 

A heart attack is often preceded by chest, arm, upper abdomen, shoulder or jaw pain.  It may also, especially in women, be accompanied by dizziness, sweating, vomiting and nausea.  There is rarely a warning before sudden cardiac arrest.  Heart attack victims usually remain conscious.  Sudden cardiac arrest victims always lose consciousness. 

Lives are rarely saved by CPR.  In fact, the survival rate for out-of-hospital CPR is estimated to be between 1 and 3 percent.  The good news is that survival rates are much improved if you know CPR and they are especially improved if you have access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) .   That’s why you need both.

AEDs are used to restart a heart that has stopped beating or is beating too quickly to create a pulse.  They can be used by anyone.  Even you.   The instructions are spoken to you directly from the machine itself.  AEDs will only work if the heart is in a position to benefit from the shock (they won’t even fire otherwise, so you can’t accidentally shock someone who doesn’t need it!). 

Despite what you have seen in the movies, CPR will not “make the heart start”.  Rather, it simulates the beating of the heart, thereby assisting the circulation of oxygenated blood to vital organs.  This essentially keeps the blood moving and the brain alive until advanced support techniques can be provided by an AED or similar device.   Time is your worst enemy in the case of a sudden cardiac arrest.  Permanent brain damage can occur within 4 minutes.

Research has shown that performing CPR on a cardiac arrest victim prior to shocking with an AED makes the heart much more likely to respond.  The only exception is if the defibrillator is with the victim when the heart stops (unlikely).  If so, use it right away.

Research shows that cardiac arrest victims are unlikely to respond to a second or third succssive shock if the first doesn’t work.  They are, in fact, much more likely to respond to a repeat shock after two minutes of CPR.

Do you know CPR?  Even if you can’t remember all the techniques and ratios you were taught, doing CPR badly is better than doing nothing at all.  Remember, the person has no pulse.  They are essentially dead.  You can’t make it worse.

How to Save a Life in Two Steps (even if you are untrained in CPR):

1.  Call 9-1-1

2.  Push hard and fast in the center of the victims chest.  Don’t be afraid, just do it.  I mean, wouldn’t you want someone to do it for you if you were dying?  You can only help.  Keep doing compressions until an AED arrives and is ready for use or an EMS provider takes over. 

This is called “Hands-Only CPR”.  Studies show that these two steps can be as effective as conventional CPR (chest compressions plus mouth-to-mouth).  Providing Hands-Only CPR to an adult who has collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest can more than double their chance of survival.

*  How fast should you push on the chest?  103 beats per minute.  That is exactly the beats per minute in the disco song “Stayin’ Alive”.  A study by the Univ. of Illinois found that 10 docs and 5 med students who listened to the song while practicing CPR not only performed perfectly, they remember the technique five weeks later.

*  If you have been trained in CPR and you are confident in your abilities to provide rescue breaths with minimal interruptions in chest compressions, then you should provide either conventional CPR using a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio or Hands-Only CPR.  Whichever you use, you need to continue it right up until the moment that an AED is ready to use, or an EMS provider takes over.

Be ready to help someone.  Get online CPR Training!  And buy an AED for your home, office, boat, cabin…  It may save your life or the life of someone near you.

“We started noticing orders for the N95 respirator masks late on Sunday,” said Allegro CEO Craig Hood, “and by Monday morning mask revenue alone had reached $20k. That’s when we knew it was going to be a big day.  We responded with site-wide banners, optimization, blogs, sales promotions and a special “Swine Flu” category for customers to quickly find masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and anti-viral disinfectants.” 

The Company reported that the massive number of visitors on the website essentially overloaded it to the point of shutting down for a few minutes around 4pm Pacific time. 

Why the high volume?  “People are trying to do the right thing by preparing for whatever may happen,” said company spokesperson and co-owner Valerie Paxton. “We’re hopeful that Allegro’s products can provide some protection, prevention and peace of mind to those who can benefit most from these anti-viral products.”  

Today, AllegroMedical.com’s brisk sales continued despite the “temporarily out of stock” condition of some of the N95 Respirator Masks.  Paxton says, “Yesterday’s run on masks revealed a major shortage of product from our suppliers, but we have more stock on its way so we’re confident that we can cover the demand.”  The Company suggests that people hold onto their place in line rather than cancel their orders, as the shortage is widespread. 

About Allegro Medical

Allegro Medical is a division of Allegro Enterprises, Inc., a privately-owned company based in Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 1996, and serving more than 1 million consumer and business customers, the Company is one of the largest and most technologically advanced independently owned suppliers of life enhancing products in the U.S. www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Since launching the first ecommerce site in the medical equipment and home health care supplies industry in 1998, Allegro has expanded into Health & Fitness, Nutritional Dietary Supplements, Sexual Well-Being, Pain Relief, Emergency Preparation and Maternity/Baby. Visitors to www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Contact:

Valerie Paxton

vpaxton (at) AllegroMedical (dot) com

480-990-8881, Ext. 110

Studies are ongoing as to how this particular A (H1N1) swine influenza is transmitted, but so far neither contact with pigs nor eating pork has been linked to the spread of the flu.  The flu is normally transmitted through the respiratory tract and spread when people come in contact with droplets of infected body fluids. 

According to a report this morning on Bloomberg.com, “N95 respirator masks, when properly used, filter germs from the breath and hamper the spread of flu.”  You can find all types of respirator masks at AllegroMedical.com, along with medical gloves,  antibacterial sanitizers and high level disinfectants in the company’s Swine Flu Products Category.

What can you do to avoid Swine Flu?

*  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Dispose of the tissue in the trash.  For extra precaution wear an N95 Particulate Respirator Mask.  These are being used worldwide to help contain the spread of the flu.

*  Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  The CDC also recommends the use of Alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

*  If you are in contact with others, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  That’s how germs are spread.  Again, keep your hands sanitized.

*  Avoid close contact with sick people, if you can help it.  The flu is spread mainly through people sneezing and coughing around each other.

*  The CDC recommends that if you get sick, stay home from work or school to prevent the spread of infection.

*  Practice good health habits.  Get plenty of sleep, be active, manage your stress, drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious food.

According to an interview with Dr. Nancy Snyderman on NBC’s Today Show, the human body has no natural immunity to the swine flu and the incubation period is about 48 hours. 

Swine Flu Symptoms include:

*   High fever of 102+

*  Cough

*  Chills

* Headache

* Aches  and Pains

*  Some reports include nausea and diarrhea

Dr. Synderman says “You KNOW you’re sick.”  Don’t worry that you have the swine flu if your are experiencing cold symptoms or spring allergies.   We don’t want to overwhelm the system with everyone rushing to the doctors for every sniffle. 

If you start to experience flu-like symptoms, stay home, have your kids stay home and call the doctor.  If you happen to have the flu, check out Allegro Medical’s Cold and Flu Products to make you feel better. 

Read “Understanding Swine Flu Outbreak: Questions and Answers” for more information. 

Be smart, and take care of yourself!

First things First:

Okay, so, the most important thing is that you dial 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY  (no more than 5 minutes) if you have heart attack symptoms.  Time is critical, especially now that they have all these new medications and treatments that will stop some heart attacks and strokes. 

Most heart attacks don’t happen the way we see them on TV.   Granted, some are obvious and immediate, but most heart attacks start slow, with only mild discomfort.  That’s what makes them so tricky!  Hey, you know when something is just not right.  Don’t wait too long if have the following symptoms:

Heart Attack Warning Signs for Men (from the American Medical Assoc.)

• Chest Discomfort – Take heed if you are feeling uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
• Other Upper Body Discomfort – You may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of Breath – This could happen with or without the chest discomfort or pain.
• Breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling lightheaded or nauseous

Heart Attack Warning Signs for Women

Cardiovascular disease is the Number 1 cause of death in women and it is the most preventable.  Women experience the same heart attack symptoms as men, most commonly chest pain or discomfort, but women are more likely than men to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness or breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. 

Women, Respond to these Symptoms!

• Chest pain – may include back pain and/or deep aching and throbbing in one or both arms
• Breathlessness and/or inability to catch your breath when waking up
• Clammy sweating
• Dizziness — unexplained lightheadedness and possible blackouts
• Anxiety — unusual nervousness, feelings of impending doom
• Edema — fluid retention and swelling in the ankles or lower legs
• Fluttering, rapid heartbeats or palpitations
• Nausea or gas
• Feeling of heaviness, such as pressure-like pain between the breasts that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder 

What do I do if I Think I’m Having a Heart Attack?

Don’t second guess!  And don’t have someone drive you to the hospital if you can help it.  You’ll almost always get faster treatment if you call 9-1-1 and let the EMS crew take care of you.  You’ll also get faster treatment at the hospital if you arrive by ambulance.  Don’t ever drive yourself to the hospital unless you have absolutely no other option.

Difference Between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest

A heart attack is caused by a circulation or blockage problem in the heart whereas cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical problem in the heart.  Sudden cardiac arrest is more frequent in people who have had heart attacks before because their hearts may be damaged and may pump poorly. Damage to the heart muscle can lead to disturbances of the electrical system and in turn can cause dangerously fast heart rhythms that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. 

Signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest:

• Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning
• The victim is unresponsive (no response to tapping on shoulders)
• The victim is not breathing normally (no normal breath when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds)

What do I do of Someone is Having a Cardiac Arrest?

• Tell someone to call 9-1-1 and get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) (if available)
• You begin CPR immediately (while someone else calls 9-1-1).  Read CPR Myths, Tips and Updates
• If you are alone with an adult who has these signs of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and get an AED (if one is available) before you begin CPR
• Use an AED as soon as it arrives

Stroke Warning Signs (from the American Stroke Assoc.)

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Notice that the word *SUDDEN* appears in every case.  One of the “signs” is that these symptoms happen very quickly.  Like, you’re fine one second and not fine the next. 

What do I do if I Think I’m Having a Stroke?

If you or someone you’re with has one or more of these signs, immediately call 9-1-1 so an ambulance can be sent.  As with a heart attack, time is the biggest factor in your odds for recovery.  Check the time the symptoms first appeared so you can tell the EMS team.  There is a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) that, if administered within three hours of the start of symptoms, can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.

Stop heart disease and strokes before they happen!  Read Staggering Heart Facts, 5 Ways to Celebrate American Heart Month and Are You At Risk for Heart Disease?.

Do you have something to share that might help someone?  Please reply below!