Which symptom suggests a possible stroke rather than a heart attack?

Which symptom suggests a possible stroke rather than a heart attack?

• A. Facial droop or weakness on one side
• B. Chest pressure or tightness
• C. Shortness of breath
• D. Nausea

Answer: (A)

Sudden unilateral facial weakness or droop points to a neurologic event such as a stroke, because it shows one side of the face is not functioning properly due to brain involvement. Heart attack symptoms come from the heart and typically show chest pressure or tightness, shortness of breath, and sometimes nausea. In EMS, spotting a facial droop is a cue to suspect stroke and act quickly with rapid transport to a stroke-capable facility, using quick checks (face, arms, speech) to gauge onset and severity. The other symptoms listed are more typical of a cardiac event, not a stroke.

Sudden unilateral facial weakness or droop points to a neurologic event such as a stroke, because it shows one side of the face is not functioning properly due to brain involvement. Heart attack symptoms come from the heart and typically show chest pressure or tightness, shortness of breath, and sometimes nausea. In EMS, spotting a facial droop is a cue to suspect stroke and act quickly with rapid transport to a stroke-capable facility, using quick checks (face, arms, speech) to gauge onset and severity. The other symptoms listed are more typical of a cardiac event, not a stroke.