[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/09\/stroke-vs-heart-attack-mm02\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/09\/stroke-vs-heart-attack-mm02\/","headline":"Stroke Vs Heart Attack: Signs and Symptoms","name":"Stroke Vs Heart Attack: Signs and Symptoms","description":"Heart attacks and stroke (also called \"brain attacks\") are quite different, but both can be life threatening. Learn how to tell the difference.","datePublished":"2015-09-02","dateModified":"2024-11-22","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","name":"Neurosurgery","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/neurosurgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/chest-pain.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/chest-pain.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/09\/stroke-vs-heart-attack-mm02\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health","Neurosurgery and Brain Health"],"wordCount":512,"keywords":["heart attack","heart attack symptoms","myocardial infarction","seizures","stroke","stroke symptoms"],"articleBody":"Heart attacks and strokes \u2014 also called brain attacks \u2014 are quite different, but both can be life threatening.Identifying the symptoms as quickly as possible in yourself or a loved one can help ensure immediate treatment, which in turn increases the chance of survival and lessens the likelihood of lasting damage and disability.Here\u2019s the difference between a heart attack and a stroke \u2014 and what to look for so you can get the appropriate care.What Is a Heart Attack?Also known as a\u202fmyocardial infarction, a heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced or interrupted, typically by clogged, narrowed arteries, or a\u202fblood clot. When blood flow is blocked, the heart muscle can\u2019t get enough oxygen and begins to die.Heart attack risk factorsYou\u2019re at higher risk for having a heart attack if you:Are overweight or obese.Are physically inactive.Have a family history of cardiovascular disease.Have\u202fhigh blood pressure.Have high cholesterol.Have\u202fdiabetes.Smoke.Heart attack symptomsClassic\u202fsymptoms of a heart attack\u202finclude:Discomfort that extends to the shoulders, arms, back, abdomen, jaw, and teeth.Lightheadedness or fainting.Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or stops and recurs.Shortness of breath.Sweating.Heart attack symptoms in womenWomen may experience different or more vague symptoms, such as:Abdominal pain that may feel like heartburn or indigestion.Clammy skin.Dizziness.Unusual fatigue.What Is a Stroke?A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either when a blood clot breaks a vessel (ischemic stroke) or when a vessel weakens or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). Brief interruptions in blood flow, known as transient ischemic attacks (also known as mini-strokes), are strokes that do not cause damage in the brain. In the case of TIAs, symptoms will typically resolve within one to two hours but you should still seek medical care.When blood flow is interrupted, brain cells don’t receive enough oxygen and begin to die. Depending on what part of the brain is damaged, a stroke can cause problems with speech, weakness, balance, and loss of vision.Stroke symptomsClassic stroke symptoms include:Sudden confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding speech.Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss or balance or coordination.Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.Sudden severe headache with no known cause.Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.Stroke symptoms in womenWomen may experience different or more vague symptoms, such as:Agitation.Burning pain.Confusion, unresponsiveness, or disorientation.Hallucinations.Hiccups.Loss of consciousness.Nausea or vomiting.Neglecting one side of your body.Seizures.Sudden behavioral changes.Trouble swallowing.Weakness in both legs.If you think that you or a loved one are having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately.To learn more about stroke rehab and stroke prevention, visit the\u202fUPMC Stroke Institute website.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 2, 2015, and was last reviewed on November 22, 2024."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Stroke Vs Heart Attack: Signs and Symptoms","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/09\/stroke-vs-heart-attack-mm02\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]