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Women: Do you Know These Silent Heart Attack Symptoms?

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Woman holding heart
Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash

Heart attacks are a serious health concern, and they can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Unfortunately, many women may not realize that they’re having a heart attack because the symptoms can be different from those typically associated with heart attacks in men. Here are four silent heart attack symptoms that women should be aware of:

Chest Pain

Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women. However, women may experience chest pain differently, such as a tightness or pressure in the chest instead of a crushing pain. This can make it more difficult to recognize the symptom as a sign of a heart attack.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath is another common symptom of a heart attack in women. This can feel like you can’t catch your breath, or it may feel like you’re out of breath for no reason.

Fatigue

Women who experience a heart attack may feel fatigued, especially if they’re not getting enough sleep. Fatigue can make it difficult to carry out daily activities and can be a sign of an underlying health problem.

Nausea or Indigestion

Nausea or indigestion can be symptoms of a heart attack in women. This can feel like an upset stomach, and it may be accompanied by a feeling of fullness or bloating.

Learn More

Fast action can save lives. It’s a good idea to know what to do if someone experiences a heart attack or cardiac arrest. HeartCert offers CPR and First Aid classes for all skill sets and levels of experience. Whether you are an experienced Healthcare Professional or a new parent just wanting to learn ‘the basics’, we have a class for you! We can teach a convenient one-on-one CPR or first aid training session, or we can certify a large group on-site depending on your needs. Visit our Homepage to get started.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2019.

CNA Training Now Offered in Northfield

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HeartCert is excited to announce that we are now offering Certified Nursing Assistant training courses in Northfield, MN! With the continued shortage of essential health care workers throughout Minnesota, we hope this new location will help more people become trained, certified, and employed as certified nursing assistants, or CNAs.

Downtown Northfield, MN

What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?

Certified nursing assistants provide essential care in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, adult care facilities, hospitals and private residences. 

Register for a CNA Training Course

CNA job responsibilities vary somewhat depending on the location, but CNAs can generally expect to perform these duties:

  • Assistance with daily care tasks, such as cleaning and bathing, transportation, preparing and serving food, and transferring between furniture and mobility devices
  • Measuring and monitoring vital signs
  • Performing medicare care under the supervision of nursing staff members
  • Light cleaning and maintenance
  • Providing companionship and comfort
  • Other duties as needed

Read: Why Should I Become a CNA?

About the Northfield, MN Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program

HeartCert administers the American Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program. The curriculum includes both online and in-person training and testing. It is taught and monitored by experienced nursing professionals. 

Students will find the curriculum comprehensive, rigorous, and challenging – but rewarding. You will be fully trained, certified, and ready to work after just two weeks!

To learn more about our nursing courses in Northfield or any of our other locations, visit the CNA program page on our website, or give us a call!

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

How to Lower Your Salt Intake

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Looking to improve your cardiovascular health in the new year? There are many easy changes you can make for better health: eat more whole foods, get more physical activity, focus on high-quality sleep, reduce stress, and learn CPR, among others. One way to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke is to lower your salt intake.

Sodium and Heart Disease

Excess salt intake is a known risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High sodium levels increase blood pressure and cause plaque to accumulate in the blood vessels. Because an estimated 90 percent of Americans consume more sodium than is recommended, it’s something that we should all be aware of.

a woman sprinkling salt on her food
photo credit: @fmdevice accessed 1/4/23 via CC0

4 Tips to Lower Salt Intake

  1. Start Gradually: For long-term success, make the switch gradually. Mix low-sodium and regular foods, and add just a little less salt every time you cook. This will help you adjust more easily and sustainably.
  2. Buy Fresh or Frozen: Canned vegetables and beans are often high in sodium. Choose frozen, dried, or fresh whenever possible.
  3. Eat More Potassium: Potassium counters the effects of sodium in the body. Foods such as bananas, tomatoes, cantaloupe, oranges, and beans are good sources of this vital nutrient. (Learn more about the power of potassium: Potassium Can Lower Heart Disease Risk)
  4. Get Creative with Flavor: Instead of adding salt, season food with other spices, herbs, vinegar, garlic, oils or citrus. Always taste food before adding salt!

What’s the best way to protect the hearts of those you love? Sign up for a CPR training course! HeartCert offers a variety of CPR certification classes across the country and online. Find your CPR class today!

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2019.

How Alcohol Impacts Heart Health

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Are you considering cutting back on your alcohol consumption? You’re not alone. Many people across the country are drinking less, or even cutting booze out entirely. The reasons for this shift vary. Mental health, weight control, financial constraints, or simply the increased availability of non-alcoholic options are common reasons given. For others, the main motivator is the effect of alcohol on physical health.

woman drinking alcohol
photo credit: @wildlittlethingsphoto accessed 11/30/22 via CC0

The Impact of Alcohol on Heart Health

Drinking too much alcohol can contribute to high blood pressure, obesity, depression and anxiety, stroke, high cholesterol, and more. Heavy drinking has been shown to prematurely age the arteries, and can lead to poor sleep and food choices.

Binge drinking – defined as four or more drinks in two hours for women and five or more drinks in two hours for men – is even more harmful. The risks of binge drinking include irregular heartbeats, stroke, blood clots and even heart failure.

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How Much Alcohol is Safe to Drink?

The American Heart Association recommends “moderate” alcohol consumption. This means an average of one drink per day for women, and one to two drinks per day for men. The amount in each drink matters, too: one drink is defined as 5 ounces of wine, one 12-ounce regular beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.

What About Red Wine?

There has long been a common belief that drinking a glass of red wine each day is good for the heart. It’s true that there are some components in red wine (such as flavonoids, resveratrol, and antioxidants) that can benefit heart health. However, those nutrients are easily found in other foods, such as blueberries and red grapes.

If you’re looking to improve heart health, it’s best to focus on lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep.

Read: How to Stay Healthy This Winter

The Bottom Line: Moderation is Key

If you drink, talk to your doctor about your risk factors. They can help you determine whether and how much is safe for you to drink. In general, focus on moderation – one drink per day or less – to minimize the risk to your heart, health and happiness.

What’s one of the best ways to protect the hearts of those you love? Learn CPR! Because most cardiac arrests occur in the home, keep your loved ones safe with HeartCert CPR training.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Good Samaritan Laws and Bystander CPR

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There are many reasons people give when asked why they’re hesitant to perform CPR on a stranger. These range from causing additional injury to exposing someone in public. However, the benefits far outweigh any potential risks.

More than 325,000 people go into cardiac arrest in the United States every year, and immediate CPR significantly lowers the risk of death, brain damage, or other lasting injury.

Read More: Why Don’t Bystanders Perform CPR?

One of the most common reasons people don’t provide CPR in public is the fear of legal prosecution should they cause further injury. However, there are legal protections against this kind of prosecution.

What Are Good Samaritan Laws?

Good Samaritan laws protect bystanders who perform CPR
photo credit: @huy-phan-316220 accessed 11/30/22 via CC0

Every state in the country has a “Good Samaritan” law of some kind. The specifics vary, but in general, these laws provide legal protection to people who provide reasonable assistance for someone who is experiencing an injury or emergency.

In short, if you are providing CPR to the best of your knowledge and ability, the likelihood that you will be held legally responsible for any additional injury is minimal. (If you have any questions about a specific situation or case, please contact an attorney.)

If you encounter someone who is in cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and provide help to the best of your ability. A CPR training course can help you be more prepared should you find yourself in this situation. Sign up for an in-person, virtual, or on-demand CPR course today!

Register for a CPR Course

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2019.

Why Every Business Should Have an AED Onsite

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Sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and without warning, and its effects are immediate. If a patient does not immediately receive treatment, sudden cardiac arrest results in significant disability or death. This is why it’s so important for businesses of all types and sizes to have an Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED onsite and in good working condition – and for employees and the public to have the ability and knowledge to use it.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

A sudden cardiac arrest is triggered by a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system. This produces abnormal heart rhythms and disrupts the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body, resulting in a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.

According to the FDA, the probability of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent for every minute that a person is in sudden cardiac arrest. It’s vitally important to equip professionals and bystanders alike with the ability and tools they need to perform lifesaving interventions.

an aed onsite at a business
Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

Why Businesses Need an AED Onsite

An AED is a critical step in the out-of-hospital chain of survival. AEDs deliver an electrical shock, called defibrillation, that restores the heart to its normal rhythm and restarts blood flow. Having an AED onsite is one of the best and easiest ways to protect employees and the public from the devastation of sudden cardiac arrest.

Register for an AED Training Course

AEDs are fairly easy to use, but training is recommended in order to deliver defibrillation safely and quickly. HeartCert offers an all-in-one CPR/AED/first aid training course. Learn these lifesaving skills in one convenient session! In-person, hybrid, and virtual CPR training options are available.

HeartCert also sells AEDs! Visit our shop page and contact us with any questions.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.