Heart Attack

In the event of a suspected heart attack you may, although not necessarily, experience or notice one or several of the following symptoms:

• Crushing pain in the chest
• Pain running down one or both arms, usually the left
• Pain in the neck, shoulders, back or abdomen
• Profuse sweating
• Shortness of breath or laboured breathing
• Tension in the jaw and aching teeth
• Feeling sick or vomiting
• Confusion or dizziness
• Overwhelming feeling of anxiety

If affected by or see any of these symptoms you should call 999 immediately

Stroke

In the event of a stroke you may, although not necessarily, experience or notice one or several of the following symptoms.

These can be remembered with the word FAST: Face – Arms – Speech – Time

• Face– the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have drooped
• Arms– the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness in one arm
• Speech– their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake
• Time– it is time to call 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms

Other symptoms and signs may include:

• paralysis of one side of the body
• sudden loss or blurring of vision
• dizziness
• confusion
• difficulty understanding what others are saying
• problems with balance and co-ordination
• difficulty swallowing
• a sudden and very severe headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before
• loss of consciousness

If affected by or see any of these symptoms you should call 999 immediately