What should you do if someone is having a stroke or a heart attack?

3 Things to Do When Someone Is Having a Stroke

  1. Call 911 immediately. …
  2. Note the time you first see symptoms. …
  3. Perform CPR, if necessary. …
  4. Do Not Let that person go to sleep or talk you out of calling 911. …
  5. Do Not Give them medication, food, or drinks. …
  6. Do Not Drive yourself or someone else to the emergency room.

What to immediately do if someone is having a heart attack?

What to do if you or someone else may be having a heart attack

  • Call 911 or your local emergency number. …
  • Chew and swallow an aspirin while waiting for emergency help. …
  • Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed. …
  • Begin CPR if the person is unconscious.

What is the first aid treatment for stroke?

Call emergency services and get to the hospital immediately.

  1. Call emergency services. …
  2. If you’re caring for someone else having a stroke, make sure they’re in a safe, comfortable position. …
  3. Check to see if they’re breathing. …
  4. Talk in a calm, reassuring manner.
  5. Cover them with a blanket to keep them warm.

What is the first aid for chest pain?

Begin CPR on the person having a heart attack.

The American Heart Association recommends starting hands-only CPR. Push hard and fast on the person’s chest for 100 to 120 compressions a minute.

How do you manage a stroke?

Emergency IV medication.


An IV injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) — also called alteplase (Activase) or tenecteplase (TNKase) — is the gold standard treatment for ischemic stroke. An injection of TPA is usually given through a vein in the arm within the first three hours.

What do nurses do for strokes?

Nurses working in acute stroke services have a wide-ranging role that includes assessment, identification and monitoring, as well as rehabilitation, psychological support and end of life care.

Should you lie down with chest pain?

Sitting up and leaning forward tends to ease the pain, while lying down and breathing deep worsens it. Some people describe the pain as a dull ache or pressure in their chest. The chest pain may feel like a heart attack. If you experience chest pain, call 911 right away because you may be having a heart attack.

Does Tylenol help with chest pain?

Tylenol is a good choice for those needing relief from the physical pain caused by osteoarthritis in the joints or from headache pain and who also have heart troubles such as high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attacks, chest pain due to narrowed coronary arteries (angina), or stroke.

What immediate actions are appropriate when a patient complains of chest pain?

Aspirin may be prescribed (if not contraindicated) in the setting of chest pain to reduce the risk of thrombus formation in blood vessels. Aspirin inhibits the formation of thromboxanes, which mediate vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation. Often, in the setting of chest pain, morphine will be prescribed.

What are the 5 warning signs of a stroke?

5 Warning Signs of Stroke

  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body).
  • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.
  • Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden difficulty walking or dizziness, loss of balance or problems with coordination.

How do you confirm a stroke?

Strokes are usually diagnosed by doing physical tests and studying images of the brain produced during a scan.

  1. A blood test to find out your cholesterol and blood sugar level.
  2. checking your pulse for an irregular heartbeat.
  3. taking a blood pressure measurement.

Can stroke be treated?

Ischaemic strokes can often be treated using injections of a medicine called alteplase, which dissolves blood clots and restores blood flow to the brain. This use of “clot-busting” medicine is known as thrombolysis.

Do you give oxygen to someone having a stroke?

Guidelines by NICE (2008), the Royal College of Physicians (2016) and the British Thoracic Society (2017) recommend giving oxygen to people who have had a stroke if their oxygen levels drop. The accepted threshold at which oxygen is advised is around 95% oxygen saturation.

How do you care for a stroke patient in a nursing home?

How to Care for a Stroke Patient at Home

  1. Encourage daily rehabilitation exercise. …
  2. Don’t do too much, but be helpful. …
  3. Talk with social workers or case managers for tips. …
  4. Talk with an OT for house modification recommendations. …
  5. Keep a record of side effects from medication. …
  6. Be on the lookout for new stroke side effects.

What should you assess in a stroke patient?

Your initial evaluation of a patient with a suspected stroke should include airway, breathing, and circulation, followed by neurologic assessment using either the NIHSS or the mNIHSS, per facility policy.

Which side should you sleep on for your heart?

Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ and it also makes your heart’s job easier because it keeps the fetus’ weight from applying pressure to the large vein (called the inferior vena cava) that carries blood back to the heart from your …

Why does my heart hurt when J lay down?

Chest pain often occurs at night because that is when you are lying down. The lying down position can cause flare ups of pain caused by certain conditions, like acid reflux. The pain could also be due to a cardiac or lung condition, obesity, or an injury, all of which should be discussed with a doctor.

Why do I always wake up with a tight chest?

Waking up with chest pain can be unsettling. The pain might be caused by a minor problem, such as stress or indigestion. The pain might also be caused by a serious problem, such as a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism. Chest pain should always be taken seriously.

Is Tylenol safe for stroke?

The American Heart Association identifies acetaminophen (TYLENOL®) as a pain relief option to try first* for patients with, or at high risk for, cardiovascular disease, as it is not known to increase risks of heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.

What is better aspirin or Tylenol?

Aspirin is safer than acetaminophen, he said, though to be used as a pain reliever it requires much higher doses — which can have side effects like stomach upset. Aspirin also interferes with blood coagulation for days after taking it.

Is Aleve A aspirin?

Does Aleve contain aspirin? No, Aleve does not contain aspirin. Aleve should not be taken with aspirin, aspirin-containing products or any other pain reliever/fever reducer unless your doctor has instructed you to do so.

How do you manage a patient with chest pain?

Treatment

  1. Artery relaxers. Nitroglycerin — usually taken as a tablet under the tongue — relaxes heart arteries, so blood can flow more easily through the narrowed spaces. …
  2. Aspirin. …
  3. Thrombolytic drugs. …
  4. Blood thinners. …
  5. Acid-suppressing medications. …
  6. Antidepressants.

How do you intervene and care for the patient with chest pain and anxiety?

Deep breathing: Steady, deep breathing can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and prevent them from getting worse. Remember it is temporary: While experiencing chest pain, focus on the fact that these symptoms should last no more than a few minutes.

When treating a patient with chest pain you should?

How to Treat Chest Pain

  1. Call 911. Do not try to ignore or wait out the symptoms, because it could be an indication of a heart attack or other serious medical condition. …
  2. Chew an aspirin. …
  3. Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed. …
  4. Begin CPR, if directed. …
  5. Use an automated external defibrillator (AED), if available.

What is the fastest way to check for a stroke?

What is the FAST test for a stroke?

  1. Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
  2. Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  3. Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? …
  4. Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important.

What is a silent stroke?

A silent stroke refers to a stroke that doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area, causing nearby brain cells to die.

What are the 3 types of strokes?

The three main types of stroke are:

  • Ischemic stroke.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke.
  • Transient ischemic attack (a warning or “mini-stroke”).

How can you test for a stroke at home?

How to Spot a Stroke: 5 Sure Signs and 4 Life-Saving Letters

  1. They are common. …
  2. They are preventable. …
  3. F = Face — Ask the person to smile. …
  4. A = Arms — Ask the person to raise both arms. …
  5. S = Speech — Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. …
  6. T = Time — If the person failed any part of the test, note the time and get help.

How long can a stroke last?

Stroke symptoms typically last more than 24 hours, and may or may not resolve, even with therapy. Some stroke symptoms may never resolve or get better. TIA symptoms last for a short time. Symptoms can begin to resolve in about 1 to 5 minutes, which is typical, but some may take about 24 hours to resolve.

What is considered a minor stroke?

When people use the term “ministroke,” what they’re really often referring to is a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a brief interruption of blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or retina, which may cause temporary stroke-like symptoms but does not damage brain cells or cause permanent disability.

What triggers a stroke?

They happen when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. These blood clots typically form in areas where the arteries have been narrowed or blocked over time by fatty deposits known as plaques.

What foods can trigger a stroke?

Diets high in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol have been linked to stroke and related conditions, such as heart disease. Also, getting too much salt (sodium) in the diet can raise blood pressure levels.

What does a stroke look like?

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.

What 3 foods cardiologists say to avoid?

Here are eight of the items on their lists:

  • Bacon, sausage and other processed meats. Hayes, who has a family history of coronary disease, is a vegetarian. …
  • Potato chips and other processed, packaged snacks. …
  • Dessert. …
  • Too much protein. …
  • Fast food. …
  • Energy drinks. …
  • Added salt. …
  • Coconut oil.

What is the healthiest sleeping position?

Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it’s easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spinal tissues and enables your muscles to relax and recover.

Why you shouldn’t sleep on your right side?

Sleeping on your right side can cause more acid to leak through your esophagus. Sleeping on your stomach or back makes GERD symptoms worse, too. To lower the risk of GERD problems, patients usually sleep best on their left sides.

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