About the Research

We created this scale because…

Over 16,000 Canadians die each year from unrecognized warning signs of a heart attack. This alone accounts for 29% of all deaths in Canada each year. 49-92% of people experience warning signs but do not recognize them as warning signs of a heart attack because they occur at unusual times and are totally unexpected.

Warning signs, or Prodromal Symptoms are described as unusual or unexpected symptoms that come and go, so they are hard to recognize, because they change in level of severity and frequency and can happen days, weeks, or months before a heart attack. Sometimes two or three symptoms can happen at a time. Some examples of prodromal symptoms include: chest pain/tightness, heaviness, discomfort, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, or headaches.

The Prodromal Symptoms-Screening Scale (PS-SS) was developed to alert people to the warning signs of heart disease. Women and men with known heart disease and health care providers who have expertise in cardiovascular health care assisted in the development of this tool. It has been previously used and tested by individuals with heart disease and is reliable and valid.

The PS-SS has the potential to “get ahead of heart disease” by increasing your knowledge of warning signs and screening for them annually. The PS-SS also provides Healthcare Providers with a tool to identify your prodromal symptoms and individual risk factors and manage your heart health.