🚨 EMERGENCY: If you or someone around you experiences chest pain, sudden severe headache, difficulty breathing, or sudden weakness or numbness — call 999 (UK) immediately. Do not wait.
Why Early Recognition Saves Lives
Heart attacks, strokes, and hypertensive crises are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment. Every minute without treatment causes irreversible damage. Knowing the warning signs and acting quickly can be the difference between life and death.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. Symptoms can come on suddenly or develop gradually over hours. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms.
❤️ Heart Attack Symptoms
- Chest pain or pressure — often described as squeezing, heaviness, or tightness in the centre of the chest
- Pain spreading to the arm (especially left), jaw, neck, back, or stomach
- Shortness of breath — with or without chest discomfort
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cold sweats and dizziness
- Extreme fatigue — especially in women, this may be the only symptom
Women are more likely to experience atypical symptoms such as nausea, jaw pain, and fatigue without chest pain. This is why heart attacks in women are often missed or diagnosed later.
Stroke Warning Signs — FAST
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Use the FAST acronym to recognise the signs:
🧠 FAST — Stroke Recognition
- F — Face: Has their face drooped on one side? Can they smile?
- A — Arms: Can they raise both arms? Does one arm drift downward?
- S — Speech: Is their speech slurred or difficult to understand?
- T — Time: Time to call 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs
Hypertensive Crisis
A hypertensive crisis occurs when blood pressure rises suddenly to 180/120 mmHg or higher. This is a life-threatening emergency that can cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, and eyes within minutes.
🚨 Hypertensive Crisis Symptoms
- Severe headache — often described as the worst headache of your life
- Blurred or double vision
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion or altered consciousness
- Nosebleed that will not stop
What to Do in an Emergency
- Call 999 immediately — do not drive yourself to hospital
- Stay calm and keep the person as still and comfortable as possible
- If they are unconscious and not breathing, begin CPR if you are trained
- If a heart attack is suspected and the person is not allergic to aspirin, they may chew a 300mg aspirin tablet while waiting for emergency services
- Do not give them food or water
- Stay on the line with emergency services until help arrives
💡 Prevention is key: Regular blood pressure checks, a healthy diet, exercise, and not smoking are the best ways to prevent a cardiac emergency. Know your numbers — check your blood pressure regularly.
Have more questions? Ask Uncle Heart! 🫀
Uncle Heart is your friendly AI health guide — available 24/7 to answer all your questions about heart health, nutrition, and hypertension.
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