15 Feb Know the Difference! Is it a Stroke or is it a Heart Attack?

Understanding the difference between a stroke and a heart attack.

While traveling earlier this month, I had a very brave woman ask the question; “What is the difference between a stroke and heart attack?” As soon as she asked the question my medical mind went into all kinds of elaborate answers, but one of my smarter colleagues had an answer that was perfect. Suzanne McCrum, PT stated, “Both, stroke and heart attack result from problems that occur in your cardiovascular system. A stroke, however, occurs in the brain while the heart attack affects the heart.”

The cardiovascular (CV) system are made up of two parts, the heart and the circulatory system. The heart pushes blood throughout the body. Arteries and veins carry and circulate that blood to all parts of the body, including the brain. When blood flow is interrupts your cardiovascular system, you could experience a stroke or heart attack. A heart attack is essentially a loss of blood supply to parts of the heart due to partial or complete blockage.

A stroke occurs when there is damage of blood flow in the brain. There are several types of stroke, but two common types are hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel, which provides blood to the brain, is blocked. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when weakened blood vessels rupture. The most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure. Learn more about the different types of stroke at StrokeAssociation.org.

How to know if you are experiencing a stroke or heart attack.

STROKE

The American Heart Association has worked diligently to spread the word about F.A.S.T. This acronym was created to help people remember the sudden signs of a stroke.

• Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
• Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
• Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

HEART ATTACK

The American Heart Association also publishes a lot of resources to help identify the signs of a heart attack, which include:

• Chest discomfort. Many people relate this “discomfort’ to an actual elephant sitting on their chest.
• Discomfort in other areas of the body, including the arms, neck, or jaw.
• Shortness of breath.
• Other signs include cold sweats or nausea.

At Trio Rehab, we know and understand how serious both a stroke and heart attack can be, which is why we urge anyone experiencing the signs of these two heart conditions to call 9-1-1 immediately. It’s important to never feel embarrassed about a decision that could save your life. To learn more about the signs of stroke and heart attack, visit heart.org.