As a practicing Cardiologist I deal with this daily. Aspirin (if not given before arrival) is one of the first things given to chest pain patients upon arrival to the ER. It should not routinely be given to someone suspected of having a stroke without further testing first. Both heart attacks and stroke may present with atypical or confusing symptoms, BUT rarely (never?) are they confused with each other.

Heart attack an Stroke Warning Signs:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053


Additional statements from the American College of Cardiology re: aspirin use with heart attacks:

http://www.acc.org/qualityandscience/clinical/pdfs/UA_NSTEMI_Final_pocketpullout.pdf

http://www.acc.org/qualityandscience/clinical/guidelines/stemi/index_pkt.pdf page 14


The American Heart Assoc. site has additional comments on the effects of NSAIDS (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.)
As it relates to heart attacks (use the search function)


Discussion at the Wilderness Medicine meetings relative to “wilderness cardiology” usually revolve around the use of aspirin and possibly beta-blockers. In “wilderness” (or “survival”) situations your resources for emergent cardiac care are usually pretty limited. Urgent evacuation (if possible) is usually you best option.