How to tell the difference between a heart attack and a stroke – and the signs you should NEVER ignore
HEART attacks and strokes are both life-threatening emergencies.
Yet, the quicker they are detected, the greater a person has of surviving their ordeal. Here are the signs to look out for...
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle is starved of oxygen-rich blood.
The lack of oxygen causes the muscle to be damaged.
Heart attacks can also be referred to as myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis or acute coronary syndrome.
Another, less common cause of a heart attack, is where one or more of the coronary arteries tear.
This is why it is so important that people recognise the signs, as the quicker a person receives treatment the higher their chances of surviving.
What are the signs of a stroke?
If you suspect you or a loved one is suffering a stroke, it is vital to act FAST.
- Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their face fallen on one side?
- Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms and keep them there?
- Speech problems - can the person speak properly, and understand what you're saying. Is their speech slurred?
- Time to call 999
If a person fails any one of these tests, it is vital you call 999 immediately.
Other symptoms of a stroke include:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- difficulty finding words
- sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
- sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
- a sudden and severe headache
What are the common risk factors?
There are some risk factors, such as age, genetics, family history, race and gender, that are predetermined and out of our control.
However, there are also a number of lifestyle factors increase a person's risk of suffering both a heart attack and stroke.
They include:
- smoking
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- being overweight or obese
- diabetes
- poor diet
- lack of exercise
- drug and alcohol abuse