Stroke Vs Heart Attack: Know The Difference - Spot Signs, Save Lives

When someone collapses or suddenly becomes confused, most people think "medical emergency". But do they know whether it's a heart attack or a stroke? Both can be deadly and disabling, yet they target different organs (heart vs brain), have different warning signs, and require different emergency responses. That distinction matters because effective treatments must be started fast. For ischemic stroke (a clot in the brain) there is a narrow window for clot-dissolving drugs (generally within about 4.5 hours of symptom onset) and mechanical clot removal may help selected patients up to 24 hours. For major heart attacks, reopening the blocked coronary artery with angioplasty within about 90 minutes (door-to-balloon time) substantially improves survival.

So, public awareness of the specific symptoms, and acting immediately, saves brain cells and heart muscle.

Stroke Vs Heart Attack: Understanding What They Are

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when a coronary artery supplying the heart becomes blocked, usually by a clot forming at the site of a ruptured plaque, causing heart muscle to die from lack of oxygen. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted (ischemic stroke) or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures (haemorrhagic stroke), damaging brain tissue. Treatments differ because the organ, the vital functions at risk, and the timelines are not the same.

How The Symptoms Differ

• Stroke (sudden brain problem): Look for sudden face droop, arm weakness, or speech difficulty, also known as the classic F.A.S.T. signs, and remember BEFAST adds balance and eye problems. Other red flags: sudden confusion, vision loss, severe unexplained headache or loss of coordination. If you see these, treat it as a stroke and call emergency services immediately.
• Heart attack (heart muscle under threat): Typical signs include chest discomfort or pressure (may feel like squeezing), pain radiating to the arm, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, light-headedness. Women and older adults may present atypically with symptoms like fatigue, indigestion, or sudden weakness too.

Why The Distinction Between Heart Attack And Stroke Matters

Time is everything. For ischemic stroke, intravenous thrombolysis is strongest when given within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and mechanical thrombectomy can benefit selected patients up to 6-24 hours in specialized centres. For ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), rapid coronary reperfusion (primary PCI) with a door-to-balloon time under 90 minutes is the target to reduce death and heart failure. Delays increase permanent damage.

Remember, "time is brain" for stroke and "time is muscle" for heart attack.

What To Do Immediately

• If you suspect stroke: Use BEFAST/FAST. If positive, call emergency services immediately; don't wait to see if symptoms resolve. Emergency teams can triage imaging (CT/MRI) and decide eligibility for clot-busting drugs or thrombectomy.
• If you suspect heart attack: Call emergency services immediately. Chew an aspirin (unless allergic) if advised by emergency operators, and get to a hospital capable of PCI. Do not drive yourself if severe symptoms occur. Emergency medical teams can start life-saving care en route.

Overlapping Risk Factors And Prevention

Both conditions share major modifiable risks like high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Controlling these reduces both stroke and heart attack risk. Vaccination (e.g., influenza) and treating atrial fibrillation (a cause of embolic stroke) are additional stroke-specific measures. Population data from India show strokes cause substantial disability and mortality, reinforcing the need for prevention and systems that cut treatment delays.

Knowing the difference between stroke and heart attack, and acting fast, saves lives and limits long-term disability. Remember, sudden face droop, arm weakness or speech trouble is a probable stroke (BEFAST/FAST); crushing chest pressure, breathlessness or radiating arm/jaw pain suggests a heart attack. In both cases, call emergency services right away. Longer term, manage shared risk factors: control blood pressure and diabetes, quit tobacco, stay active, and seek regular medical checkups. Quick action today is the best investment in heart and brain health for tomorrow.

Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.