Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk: Heart attacks

Heart attacks are a leading killer of men and women. Each year, more than 1 million people in the United States have a heart attack, and half of them die. A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood in the coronary arteries suddenly becomes blocked, and a section of heart muscle can’t get enough oxygen. The blockage is usually caused when a plaque (fatty deposit) ruptures. A heart attack is an emergency — call 911 immediately

Signs of a heart attack:

• Crushing chest pain or pressure and/or discomfort or pain elsewhere in the upper body, neck, or arms

• Nausea

• A cold sweat

• Fa...