Is it a heart attack or a stroke?
Quick breakdown
A heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart is blocked.
A stroke occurs when an artery:
- Ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain
- Narrows or becomes blocked, leading to a lack of blood flow to the brain
Facts and stats
One in three deaths in the U.S. is caused by cardiovascular disease. 64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms.
On average strokes occur every 40 seconds.
Signs and symptoms
Heart attacks:
- Shortness of breath and/or cold sweats
- Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, pain, and/or tightness
- Upper body discomfort or pain in the arms, jaw, shoulders, neck, and/or back
- Nausea
- Light headedness, dizziness, disorientation, and/or confusion
Stroke:
- Sudden weakness
- Trouble walking
- Paralysis
- Dizziness
Controllable risks
Although you can't control some stroke risk factors, like heredity, age, gender, and ethnicity, here are some risk factors that can be controlled:
- 87.5 million adults have high blood pressure
- 45.6% of adults with high blood pressure do not have it under control
Immediate actions
If you think you are having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack or stroke symptoms, ever second matters. Calling an ambulance instead of driving to the hospital provides immediate access to treatments that can begin before a patient arrives at the hospital.
Network of care
HCA Midwest Health
5 chest pain centers
- The area's largest network of award-winning, accredited Chest Pain Centers
- Your chance of surviving a heart attack at a Chest Pain Center improves by more than 35 percent
5 stroke care centers
- The region's largest network of stroke centers including a Comprehensive Stroke Center and 4 Primary Stroke Centers
- HCA Midwest Health has been recognized for their excellence in stroke care, with our Missouri hospitals among the first to achieve state designation for Time Critical Diagnosis (TCD) for stroke

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