Practical Answers for Everyday Independence

Recognizing a Heart Attack or Stroke – QG

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Category: Health & Safety

⚡ Recognizing a Heart Attack or Stroke

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.

Both are medical emergencies. Rapid treatment can reduce permanent damage and save a life.

Call 911 immediately when a heart attack or stroke is possible. Do not wait to see whether symptoms improve.

Signs of a Heart Attack

Possible warning signs include:

  • Pressure, squeezing, fullness, heaviness, or pain in the chest
  • Chest discomfort lasting more than a few minutes
  • Chest discomfort that goes away and returns
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms
  • Pain in the back, neck, jaw, shoulder, or upper stomach
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Unusual weakness
  • Fainting
  • A rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • A feeling that something is seriously wrong

Not every heart attack causes sudden, crushing chest pain. Symptoms may be mild, gradual, or mistaken for indigestion, anxiety, fatigue, or muscle pain.

Heart Attack Symptoms Can Vary

Women, older adults, and people with diabetes may be more likely to experience symptoms such as:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Back, shoulder, or jaw pain
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Mild or no chest pain

Any new or unexplained combination of these symptoms should be taken seriously.

What to Do for a Possible Heart Attack

  1. Call 911.
  2. Have the person stop all activity.
  3. Help them sit in a comfortable position.
  4. Loosen tight clothing.
  5. Keep the person calm.
  6. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
  7. Prepare to begin CPR if the person collapses.

Do not allow the person to drive themselves. An ambulance can begin treatment while traveling to the hospital.

Aspirin and Nitroglycerin

After calling 911, the dispatcher may recommend chewing aspirin.

Do not give aspirin unless directed if the person:

  • Is allergic to aspirin
  • Has active bleeding
  • Has been told not to take it
  • May be having a stroke
  • Cannot swallow safely
  • Is a child or teenager

Aspirin may be dangerous during certain types of stroke. Do not use it simply because you are unsure whether symptoms are coming from the heart or brain.

If the person has prescribed nitroglycerin, help them take it exactly as directed. Do not give someone else’s prescription medication.

Recognize a Stroke With BE FAST

Balance

  • Sudden dizziness
  • Loss of balance
  • Difficulty walking
  • Poor coordination

Eyes

  • Sudden blurred or double vision
  • Loss of vision
  • A dark or missing area in the visual field

Face

Ask the person to smile.

  • Does one side droop?
  • Does the smile appear uneven?
  • Is part of the face numb?

Arms

Ask the person to raise both arms.

  • Does one arm drift downward?
  • Is one side weak or numb?
  • Can the person lift both arms equally?

Speech

Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.

  • Is speech slurred?
  • Are the words incorrect?
  • Is the person unable to speak?
  • Do they have difficulty understanding you?

Time

If any of these signs are present, call 911 immediately.

Write down the exact time the symptoms began or the last time the person was known to be normal.

Other Possible Stroke Signs

  • Sudden confusion
  • Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause
  • Sudden difficulty understanding speech
  • Sudden trouble swallowing
  • Sudden nausea or vomiting with neurological symptoms
  • Sudden loss of consciousness
  • A seizure with no known cause
  • Sudden personality or behavior change

Stroke symptoms may be subtle. Call 911 even if only one warning sign is present.

If Stroke Symptoms Go Away

Symptoms that disappear may have been caused by a transient ischemic attack, sometimes called a TIA or “mini-stroke.”

A TIA is still an emergency warning. The risk of a full stroke may be high shortly afterward.

Call 911 even if the person says they feel normal again.

While Waiting for the Ambulance

  • Keep the person resting.
  • Note when symptoms began.
  • Gather medication and allergy information.
  • Unlock the door.
  • Move pets away.
  • Keep the phone available.
  • Do not give food or drinks.
  • Do not give medication unless directed.
  • Monitor breathing and responsiveness.

Stroke can interfere with swallowing. Food, drinks, or pills may cause choking.

If the Person Becomes Unresponsive

  • Call 911 if no one has called.
  • Check for normal breathing.
  • Begin CPR if the person is not breathing normally.
  • Send someone to get an AED.
  • Use the AED as soon as it arrives.
  • Continue until emergency professionals take over.

Gasping is not normal breathing.

Do Not

  • Wait for symptoms to improve.
  • Drive the person yourself unless emergency services are unavailable and the dispatcher directs you.
  • Give food or drinks.
  • Give aspirin when a stroke may be involved unless emergency professionals direct you.
  • Give someone else’s medication.
  • Allow the person to walk around.
  • Let embarrassment or uncertainty delay the call.
  • Assume mild symptoms are harmless.
  • Let the person go to sleep without medical evaluation.

It is better to call 911 and discover that the symptoms were not a heart attack or stroke than to lose valuable treatment time.

Reduce Future Risk

Talk with a healthcare professional about:

  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Tobacco use
  • Physical activity
  • Nutrition
  • Weight
  • Alcohol and substance use
  • Sleep apnea
  • Heart rhythm problems
  • Medication
  • Family history

Take prescribed medication as directed. Do not stop blood-pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or blood-thinning medication without professional guidance.

Quick Heart Attack and Stroke Checklist

  • Recognize chest pressure, breathing difficulty, or unexplained upper-body pain.
  • Remember BE FAST for stroke.
  • Call 911 immediately.
  • Record when symptoms began.
  • Keep the person resting.
  • Do not give food or drinks.
  • Give medication only when directed.
  • Do not let the person drive.
  • Call even if stroke symptoms disappear.
  • Begin CPR if the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally.
  • Use an AED as soon as possible.

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Important Health & Safety Notice

The information in this guide is provided for general educational purposes only. Independence Answers is not a medical provider, and this content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or supervision. Always follow the instructions of your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, or are unsure whether an action is safe for you.

Do not ignore or delay seeking professional care because of something you read here. If you believe someone may be experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.