What are heart attacks and strokes?
Although they may seem odd to group together, a heart attack and stroke both have a similar underlying mechanism and many of the same medical risk factors can lead to either condition. The basic problem with either condition is a lack of blood flow: In the case of a heart attack, it is a lack of blood flow to an area of the heart; in the case of a stroke, it is a lack of blood flow to the brain. These conditions are often caused by a blood clot in an artery that supplies all or a part of either organ. Lack of oxygen and nutrients to a small or large portion of the heart or brain can result in tissue injury or death. The wide variety of symptoms is due to the many possible ways an artery can become blocked.
Heart attack signs and symptoms:
The classic symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Profuse sweating
- Nausea
Often, individuals with classic symptoms will describe a tightness or fullness in the chest, as if someone was sitting on them.
Regrettably, many people do not experience the classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Two groups that are commonly known not to present with these symptoms are women and individuals with diabetes. The signs of a heart attack not on the classic symptoms list are known as “atypical” or an “atypical presentation.”
Atypical signs and symptoms include:
- Indigestion
- Jaw ache
- Pain in the shoulders or arm, particularly the left
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
This is not a comprehensive list, because some individuals, particularly the elderly, can experience a variety of symptoms; some may be so mild that the person does not seek medical attention, and the diagnosis is missed. For example, some people are eventually diagnosed with having had a mild heart attack — and their only symptoms were weakness and fatigue.
If a personal fitness training client experiences chest pain, even if it is thought to be musculoskeletal, the possibility of a heart attack should be considered. This is especially true if the person has risk factors for cardiac disease, which includes being over the age of 45, cocaine use, having Type 1 diabetes, having high cholesterol, and having a family history of heart attack.
The bottom line is that chest pain is always an emergency, and medical attention should be sought immediately. Doctors and nurses in emergency departments take chest pain very seriously. You are not wasting anybody's time, and you are not bothering anybody when you seek care for chest pain.
If a heart attack is suspected, the American Heart Association recommends calling 911 to immediately activate the Emergency Medical System (EMS). Delay can be deadly and often, EMT and paramedics are able to treat a heart attack on site, saving you precious minutes compared to driving yourself to the hospital. After medical assistance has been summoned, it is important to try to rest and relax in the most comfortable position. Although this may seem obvious, many people ignore the symptoms and want to continue with their activity. When heart function is limited due to an inadequate supply of blood, asking it to do more work may cause more damage and risk of further complications.
Stroke signs and symptoms:
The symptoms of a stroke depend on what part of the brain and how much of the brain tissue is affected. As a result, a stroke can present in many different ways; however, there are some commonalities.
Stroke symptoms usually come on suddenly, within minutes to an hour.
They may come and go, go away entirely, or get progressively worse over several hours. It also should be noted that there is usually no pain associated with a stroke. If the symptoms go away completely in a short time (fewer than 24 hours), the episode is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A third of all strokes occur during sleep, so people first notice the symptoms when they wake up.
There are many different ways a stroke can present; however, some common presentations are:
- Weakness or numbness in an arm and/or leg on one side of the body. This can range from very mild weakness to complete paralysis
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the face. A person’s face may sag on one side or look lopsided and their speech may be slurred, because they are unable to control their tongue or lips
- Difficulty speaking. A person may be entirely unable to speak, or their speech may not make any sense. This can be either because of or unrelated to problems with motor function of the tongue and lips
- Problems with coordination. A person may have trouble walking, picking up objects or be unable to control fine movements
- Dizziness and headache. Some have described the headache associated with a stroke as the worst headache of their life
- Vision problems. A person’s vision may be blurry or they may have double vision or loss of vision in part or all of their field of vision
- Loss of consciousness
A stroke is a medical emergency: According to the American Stroke Association, brain cells begin to die within 4 minutes from the onset. As a result, mere seconds can be the difference between resolution of symptoms or permanent injury. It is critical to call 911 immediately to seek medical assistance and get the person to an emergency department as soon as possible.
There are many kinds of people that will seek your services as a fitness professional — whether you’re a personal fitness trainer, a coach, or fall into any of the categories of athletic trainers — and it is therefore very important to have a general understanding of first aid. However, it is absolutely crucial that you be able to recognize a medical emergency and respond appropriately. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke and activating Emergency Medical Services quickly could save a person’s life.
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