Recognising a heart attack or stroke – and acting fast

First aid · Updated: October 22, 2026

Heart attacks and strokes are among the most common emergencies. For both: call the emergency number at once – 144 in Austria, 112 in Germany. Better once too often than too late.

Heart attack: the signs

• severe pain behind the breastbone, often spreading to the left arm, shoulder, lower jaw or upper abdomen
• great restlessness, fear of dying
• pale or grey face, weakness

In women the signs are often less typical, according to the German Red Cross: pain in the upper abdomen or back, nausea or vomiting and marked weakness.

Heart attack: what you can do

1. Call the emergency number.
2. If the person is awake: let them sit or lie with the upper body raised. This takes strain off the heart.
3. Loosen tight clothing, keep onlookers away.
4. Keep things calm, no exertion.
5. Stay with the person and watch them.
6. If they stop responding and are not breathing normally: start CPR at once.

Stroke: the signs

• sudden paralysis of an arm or leg, often on one side
• one corner of the mouth droops, one eyelid stays closed
• problems seeing, speaking or swallowing
• sudden, very severe headache, stiff neck, nausea

Stroke: what you can do

1. Call the emergency number and say that you suspect a stroke. Note when the symptoms started.
2. If the person is awake: lay them comfortably with the upper body raised and pad paralysed arms and legs.
3. Avoid agitation, cover them, reassure them.
4. Unconscious but breathing normally: recovery position – on the paralysed side.
5. Not breathing normally: CPR.

In an emergency, always follow the instructions of the authorities and emergency services.