Diabetes and the Risk of Heart Attacks, Cardiac Arrest and Strokes

Type 2 diabetes puts you at risk for many complications. There are those that progress slowly and those that can strike without warning. Cardiovascular complications can put you at risk for heart attacks, cardiac arrest and strokes. These are serious complications that require immediate emergency medical treatment.

Here's what to know about the warning signs of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke.

Heart Attack:

The American Heart Association (AHA) lists these signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

• Chest discomfort: Usually felt in the center of the chest, lasting more than a few minutes, or coming and going that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. Feels like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, which may or may not be accompanied by chest discomfort.
• Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness may also occur.

More on heart attacks from your About.com Guides to Diabetes, First Aid and Heart Disease:

• How Heart Disease and Diabetes Are Linked
• Treat Chest Pain in the ER
• The Nine Factors that Predict Heart Attack

Cardiac Arrest:

How is a cardiac arrest different than a heart attack? If you suffer a cardiac arrest, it means that your heart has suddenly stopped beating. A cardiac arrest can happen with no warning. If someone has a cardiac arrest, it is crucial to begin CPR immediately and call 911. If there is an automated external defibrillator (AED) unit available, there are directions on how to operate it printed on the unit. An AED can often deliver enough of an electrical jolt that a stopped heart will begin beating again. This can buy time until the rescue team gets there.

Symptoms of a cardiac arrest include:

• Sudden loss of consciousness
• Victim is not breathing or having small, shallow, irregular breaths with long periods of time in between.

More on cardiac arrest from your About.com Guides to First Aid, Diabetes and Heart Disease

• "What Is an Automated External Difibrillator"
• "Learn About Cardiac Arrest"
• "Hidden Dangers of Diabetes"

Strokes:

The American Stroke Association lists these symptoms of stroke:

• 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

If you, or someone you know, are having one or more of these symptoms, don't wait. It's essential to go to an emergency room immediately. Every second counts when experiencing a stroke. There is a limited time frame of three hours from the start of the most common kind of stroke, when medical intervention can help prevent damage.

More on strokes from your About.com Guides to First Aid, Stroke and Diabetes

• "The Connection Between Diabetes and Stroke"
• "Six Ways to Stay Stroke Free"
• "First Aid Facts About Strokes"

If you have diabetes, be aware of the risks of these complications. Know the signs and symptoms. Know what to do. Taking quick action can save your life.

_Sources:

(2008). Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs. Retrieved November 27, 2008, from American Heart Association Web site: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053

(2008, Sept. 26). Learn To Recognize A Stroke. Retrieved November 27, 2008, from American Stroke Association Web site: http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1020