High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – affects one in five Canadians. It is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease, so it is very important that it is properly controlled. Yet 42% of Canadians with high blood pressure don't even know they have it because there are no symptoms. You can't see it. You can't feel it. But the good news is that you can control it.
Roll your mouse over the image to see how high blood pressure can affect your health.
Recognizing and responding immediately to the warning signs of stroke or heart attack by calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number can significantly improve survival and recovery.
Learn to recognize the signals of a heart attack or stroke, so you can react quickly to save a life. Drag your mouse/cursor to different parts of the body and see which areas show symptoms of heart attack or stroke:
Note that the use of the above image does not imply that women or men are more at risk for heart attack or stroke.
If you experience any of these symptoms, CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
Are the warning signals of heart attack the same for women?
In the past, it was believed that women had different warning signals than men. This may not be the case. Both women and men may experience typical or non-typical symptoms such as nausea, sweating, pain in the arm, throat, jaw or pain that is unusual. However, women may describe their pain differently than men. Nevertheless, the most common symptom in women is still chest pain.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Women tend to be safeguarded from heart disease prior to menopause because of the protective effect of estrogen, but not always. For example, pre-menopausal women with diabetes have similar risk to men of the same age because diabetes cancels out the protective effect that estrogen provides to pre-menopausal women.
Heart Attack Symptoms
- Pain
- sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest
- pain that may be in the chest, neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back
- pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure
- in women, pain may be more vague
- chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and goes away with rest
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Fear
Stroke Symptoms
- Weakness - Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.
- Trouble speaking - Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.
- Vision problems - Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.
- Headache - Sudden severe and unusual headache.
- Dizziness - Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.
The Facts
- It is estimated that 650,000 BC residents have high blood pressure
- Your risk of blood pressure can lead to debilitating heart attacks and stroke-possibly limiting your quality of life
- Knowing your numbers (healthy blood pressure reading) can decrease your risk of heart disease
High Blood Pressure –Risk Factors
- Family history of heart disease or stroke
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
- Stress
- Poor diet/nutrition
- Being overweight
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Age
