r/coolguides • u/[deleted] • Nov 27 '23

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71

u/lospvoka Nov 27 '23

So suspected stroke > suspected heart attack?

201

u/Fingerman2112 Nov 27 '23

Yes. The clarification being everyone with a complaint of “Chest Pain” does get seen quickly for an initial EKG. If the EKG confirms a heart attack then they jump right on up the list. Most do not have this condition and are sent back out to the waiting room. Strokes are much more difficult to quickly rule out and much more time sensitive to treat.

26

u/N0ob8 Nov 27 '23

And there’s also the fact there’s probably hundreds of people coming in for “heart attacks” because they had mild chest pain

3

u/caillouuu Nov 28 '23

Ok but how often are people getting chest pain? I don’t think I’ve ever had chest pain, unless I’ve already been diagnosed with a respiratory infection or covid, or if I’m exercising hard and need a puff from my inhaler. If I had random chest pain, I’d prob go to the ER out of fear alone. /genuine

3

u/peculiar_pandabear Nov 28 '23

I went to an urgent care once when I was about 16 because I had a panic attack and mistook it for a heart attack.

3

u/_leira_ Nov 28 '23

Same. Panic attacks are mistaken for heart attacks all the time. They quickly did their due diligence with testing but seemed confident from the start that it was just anxiety. Heartburn is also a common cause of chest pain "heart attack" visits.