How to Know the Difference Between a Stroke and an Anxiety Attack
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the American Heart Association (See References 1). In comparison, roughly 10% of healthy individuals will experience an isolated anxiety attack in a given year according to the U.S. Surgeon General's report (See References 2). Stroke and anxiety attack symptoms can be difficult to distinguish between because of similarities in symptoms, but there are several unique identifiers of each that indicate whether you are experiencing a stroke or an anxiety attack.
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Instructions
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Consider the psychological symptoms that are different in anxiety attacks and strokes. Anxiety attacks are usually accompanied by extreme fear and a sense of impending doom, while stroke symptoms usually carry no similar traits or characteristics.
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Look at the unique characteristics of stroke that are not typically seen in panic or anxiety attacks. According to the Mayo Clinic, one major symptom that is unique to strokes is paralysis or numbing that is experienced on one side of the body. This is common in both heart attacks and strokes.
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Review the major symptoms of each anxiety attack and stroke as a whole to distinguish the difference between the two. When looking at signs of a stroke, notice that the major symptoms relate to disabilities in motor skills. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these major motor skill symptoms include difficulty with walking, speaking, and seeing.
On the other hand, HealthyPlace reports that major anxiety attack symptoms include nausea, feelings of unreality or losing control, sweating, faintness, and hot or cold flashes. Although these symptoms may cause trouble with motor skills, a stroke will usually bring on more severe motor skills difficulty.
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