Identifying a Heart Attack or Stroke

I used to think a heart attack and a stroke were the same thing.  Well, they're not.  A heart attack generally occurs when a blood clot has formed in one of the arteries sending blood to the heart.  With the blood flow blocked, the heart begins to die.  A stroke is similar in that typically a blood clot has once again formed in an artery, but this time to the brain.  As blood to the brain is blocked, that section of the brain begins to die.  The signs of both are different, but the faster you act the less damage will be done and the higher the chance of survival.

Every minute, 52 people in the USA die from a heart attack.  Half of those who experience a heart attack wait 2 hours or more to go get help.  Time is critical!  If someone is experiencing multiple of the following symptoms, it may be a heart attack.  Call 911 immediately.  Many people suffer extreme exhaustion and sleeplessness the month before their attack.  You don't need to have all of the symptoms for it to really be a heart attack, and no two attacks are exactly alike. 

Heart Attack Symptoms:

1. Pain in the chest (though some sources say women feel less chest pain)
2. Heaviness or pressure in the chest in the chest (like an elephant sitting on your heart)
3. Pressure or pain in the jaw or neck
4. Pressure or pain in one or both arms, (usually a dull ache in the left arm that grows and then radiates to the chest)
5. Nausea
6. Sweating
7. Shortness of breath
8. Feeling faint or dizzy
9. Throbbing pain between the shoulder blades
10. Nervousness or anxiety

Even before a heart attack is confirmed, medical professionals often give treatments of oxygen, aspirin (to thin the blood and prevent more clotting), or nitroglycerin.  The person should rest to not strain the heart more.

A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the United States.  Strokes don't often have accompanying pain as in a heart attack, but some symptoms are similar.  Symptoms often come suddenly, but not always 

Stroke Symptoms:

1. Sudden tingling, numbness, or loss of movement in the leg, arm, or face, especially on one side
2. A severe headache that comes on suddenly and is different from ones in the past
3. Sudden difficulty of balance, walking, and coordination 
4. Difficulty in speaking and understanding simple statements 
5. Sudden changes in vision from one or both eyes

If you suspect someone may be suffering a stroke, use this "F-A-S-T" test:

1. F = Face - Ask the person to smile and look to see if one side of the face is drooping.
2. A = Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms and watch to see if one starts to drift downward.
3. S = Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase and listen to see if their speech is slurred and difficult to understand.
4. T = Time - Get help immediately if you see any of these signs.  

While waiting for help to arrive, lay the person down to help get blood to the brain.  If the person feels nauseous, is drowsy, or unresponsive, lay them on their side to prevent vomiting and choking.  Don't give aspirin unless a doctor approves; some strokes are caused by internal hemorrhages and a blood thinner could make the situation worse.