Â鶹´«Ã½

Health

    • 1 in 3 Canadians don't know the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, poll finds

    Share

    Despite 50 per cent of Canadians having been affected by heart disease and stroke in some capacity according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, a much smaller proportion understand critical information related to the health issue.

    This is according to a new Heart and Stroke poll which also found that one in three Canadians do not understand the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack, nor do they know that men and women exhibit different signs when having a heart attack.

    “The most troubling [research finding], from my perspective, would be that a third of Canadians think that it's difficult to recognize the signs of stroke if you're not a trained healthcare professional,†Lesley James, Heart and Stroke spokesperson and director of health policy and systems, told CTVNews.ca. “The signs of stroke are easy to recognize and everyone needs to know that. It's very important because stroke can happen to anyone at any age.â€

    The online poll conducted by Environics Research Group, asked 2,003 Canadian residents aged 18 and older about their understanding of heart conditions. The data was collected between May 29 and June 9, 2023.

    KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEART CONDITIONS

    While some might think the terms cardiac arrest and heart attack can be used interchangeably, they are in fact two different health conditions.

    According to Heart and Stroke, cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Meanwhile, a heart attack is when the blood flow to the heart is slowed or blocked.

    One in three Canadians don’t know that these are two different conditions, according to the survey.

    “There hasn't been enough education and awareness about the differences between the two. So that's why we're hoping to raise awareness and increase people's understanding,†James said. “Both are medical emergencies and require immediate medical attention.â€

    A stroke on the other hand, is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain.

    According to Dr. Robert Fahed, a neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital, heart attacks and strokes come as a result of the same underlying vascular risk factors, which include smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, obesity and lack of physical exercise. Those factors cause the majority of strokes and heart attacks in Canada, Fahed told CTVNews.ca in an interview.

    SIGNS OF HEART ATTACK ARE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN

    There is also a difference between how men and women show signs that they are having a heart attack, a fact one in three Canadians are unaware of.

    “What we perceive as a heart attack are most likely the ones that happen in men. But women experience a heart attack differently—they may not have that true ‘Hollywood’ heart attack, where someone has chest pain and crushes their chest,†James said.

    Instead, women may experience shortness of breath, pressure, or pain in the lower chest or abdomen, dizziness, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.

    Meanwhile, the poll revealed that these symptoms often go unrecognized for half of Canadian women, as the symptoms often don’t have the visible severity of men’s symptoms.

    “What needs to happen in this regard is really raise awareness about what the signs of heart attack are, across both sexes,†James said.

    As for why women experience different symptoms, Fahed has some ideas.

    “We know that women's physiology is slightly different, because women produce more estrogen, which have different effects on the heart and the vessels,†Fahed said. “So women can have heart attacks at a different age than men with a different severity, they can be more or less severe.â€

    Fahed adds that many women have the tendency to underestimate the seriousness of their own symptoms, resulting in the risk of irreversible damage, or even death.

    “Women are often underrepresented in the stroke and heart attack studies and trials. And because of that, we do not have a clear understanding of all the underlying mechanisms. And there is probably a lot of work to do about this to develop appropriate drugs, medications and care for women who suffer from these diseases.â€

    LOW SURVIVAL RATE FOR CARDIAC ARREST OUTSIDE OF A HOSPITAL

    According to Heart and Stroke, 90 per cent of people who go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, do not survive.

    One in three Canadians are not aware of this fact, researchers said.

    The poll also found that one in three Canadians think they should immediately drive someone suffering from a stroke to the hospital. When in reality, they should call 9-1-1 right away, according to Heart and Stroke.

    As for cardiac arrest, James said, “Driving someone to the hospital delays time when intervention could be used right there on the spot with an AED [automated external defibrillator], and with CPR."

    Instead, if you see someone suddenly collapsing on the floor, Fahed says call 9-1-1 immediately.

    “Without even waiting a single second,†Fahed said. “For heart arrest, heart attack and stroke, the sooner medical attention is called, the sooner the patients are cared for by appropriate health care workers to better the prognosis.â€

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

    The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    Canada

    • Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

    • The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province’s police watchdog.

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair’s family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale—Langley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • Weather watchers were treated to an exceptionally rare display on Friday evening as rare cloud formations filled Vancouver skies.

    • For some shoppers it was Nov. 1, but for others the first hints of Christmas - saccharine treats, festive-fragranced candles and gaudily wrapped gift sets - were being noticed in stores long before the final Halloween decor had been cleared.

    • Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Vancouver on Monday to observe the city’s 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada’s largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • One man was transported to hospital early Monday morning after a stabbing in the northwest end of the city, Toronto police say.

    • Calgarians will be observing Remembrance Day at a number of different ceremonies across the city, including at the Hangar Flight Museum.

    • A home in the northeast Calgary community of Saddle Ridge was damaged in a fire on Sunday.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      Conditions were warm early Monday and expected to remain that way for most of the day.

    • WATCH LIVE

      WATCH LIVE

      CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • With fewer interments and rising maintenance fees, the money for Canada's largest military cemetery will run out in three to four years.

    • The employers association at the Port of Montreal locked out nearly 1,200 longshore workers, bringing a halt to traffic at the port.

    • Though most businesses are expected to be open on Remembrance Day, there are some establishments that will be closed to commemorate the holiday.

    • Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      This is shaping up to be one of the warmest Remembrance Days in the past decade, at least, for temperatures.

    • Maritimers will stop Monday to remember those who have served, and continue to serve, in Canada's armed forces for Remembrance Day.

    • A Cape Breton senior recalls her life in German-occupied France, and her mother’s death, during the Second World War.

    • Thousand of people gathered at the Menin Gate in the Ypres, Belgium for Monday’s Remembrance Day Ceremony.

    • Remembrance Day is today, and a number of ceremonies are taking place around the province to honour those who gave their lives to serve our country.

    • A pillar in Canada’s history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • There will be two ceremonies taking place in Regina for Remembrance Day, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book ‘War Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.’

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • People across Canada will pause to reflect Monday at Remembrance Day Ceremonies across the country.

    • A man has been charged after a stabbing at an apartment building in Kitchener.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • WATCH LIVE

      WATCH LIVE

      The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • On Friday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) received a report of an alleged abduction in the area of Kathleen Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

    • Watch Live

      Watch Live

      Barrie residents will gather on Monday to honour Canada’s veterans and pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for the country.

    • Environment Canada issued a weather alert for Barrie, Collingwood and surrounding areas, alerting residents about the wicked winds that are expected to pick up to 80 kilometres per hour in the afternoon hours.

    • A driver is facing multiple charges after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 early Sunday morning.

    • WATCH LIVE

      WATCH LIVE

      Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square for the outdoor service.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • More details have been released about a police investigation at the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, MI.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year’s host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • It was just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down when the Shaft Bottom Boys of Sudbury broke a world record for 'Deepest Concert Underground.' Now, more than four years later, a Timmins band is looking to take the title.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½