What Increases My Chance Of Having A Stroke
A risk factor increases your chance of developing a condition. Risk factors for a stroke are similar to those for heart diseases, such as angina or heart attacks. There are many things you can do to help lower your chances of a stroke:
- control blood sugar levels .
If you have an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation your risk of stroke is increased. This is because AF increases the risk of a blood clot forming inside the top chambers of your heart. If this happens, it can travel to your brain and block the blood flow to your brain.
- Find out more about treating atrial fibrillation.
Strokes And Heart Attacks Symptoms: What’s The Difference
Although their symptoms and effects can be similar, strokes and heart attacks are two different medical problems. Both are vascular events, meaning they involve the blood vessels, the arteries in particular. Both conditions can also lead to disability and death.
Heart attack
Heart attacks are almost always the result of progressive coronary artery disease . In CAD, the arteries that supply blood to the heart become choked with fatty deposits called plaque that narrow and block arteries – a condition called atherosclerosis. When pieces of plaque break free, blood clots can form, blocking the flow of blood to the heart. When that happens, the heart muscle does not get the oxygen and nutrients that it needs, and parts of the heart may become damaged or die. This is a heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction .
Stroke
When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing a part of the brain to die, it’s called a stroke, or “brain attack.” Stroke is similar to a heart attack, but it affects the blood vessels in the brain instead of the heart.
When the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by a clot, it’s called an ischemic stroke. Another type of stroke, called a transient ischemic attack, is sometimes called a “mini stroke” and is caused by a temporary clot.
Causes of heart attack and stroke
Reducing your risk for heart attack and stroke
Stroke And Heart Failure
Stroke can be associated with new or worsening heart failure. There are several reasons for this.
A stroke can trigger a dramatic increase in adrenaline levels and other hormones. These changes can lead to impaired function of the heart muscle, with cardiac ischemia even in people without CAD. The heart damage caused by this neurologically-mediated cardiac ischemia tends to be permanent and is common among young, healthy people who have a stroke due to subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Stroke is also associated with transient cardiac stunning, in which a portion of heart muscle suddenly stops working normally. This condition can produce episodes of severe, but temporary, heart failure.
Additionally, if a stroke is accompanied by myocardial infarction, heart failure can develop as a result.
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What Is A Heart Attack What Is A Stroke Are They The Same
If you think either you or someone near you is having either a heart attack or stroke, you should call 911 immediately, even if you are not sure.
What is a heart attack?
Heart attack occurs when sudden damage and/or death occurs to a portion of the heart muscle. The damage to the heart muscle usually is caused by a blocked coronary artery, which then prevents oxygen from getting to the muscle tissue of the heart. Heart attack is the most common cause of death in the US
Arrhythmias also can cause a heart attack. Examples of life-threatening arrhythmias include ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest, in which the person will die within a few minutes.
Heart attacks can result in permanent heart muscle damage. If the extent of the heart muscle damage is large, the person may die.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when brain tissue becomes deprived of oxygen, leading to damage or death of the brain tissue in the region affected by the stroke. The most frequent cause of a stroke is clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain .
Hemorrhagic stroke is a less common cause of stroke.
Strokes can result in permanent brain tissue damage and/or death. If the extent of brain tissue damage is large, the person may die. It is the fifth most common cause of death in the US.
Heart attack and stroke are medical emergencies.
What is a mini-stroke ?
Stroke Vs Heart Attackwhich Is Worse
Stroke vs heart attackyou dont want either one of them. These two serious conditions may result in total permanent disability or even death. Both can vary from mild to severe, to life-changing and life-ending.
When it comes to the mortality rate of stroke vs heart attack, the latter is more prevalent. Its the leading cause of death in the US. Meanwhile, stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in the United States and second worldwide. This means that heart attack is more fatal than stroke.
However, survivors may experience more difficulty after experiencing a stroke vs heart attack. The consequences of stroke may be harder to manage.
For instance, stroke can lead to disabilities that can alter your day-to-day activities. You might lose your ability to think and speak. You might also find it hard to move your arm and leg.
So, if youre more afraid of long-term disability than death, then you may consider experiencing stroke worse than having a heart attack.
Check out this video by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn how statins can prevent strokes and heart attacks:
Stroke vs heart attacktheyre the same in terms of the root cause, which is poor blood circulation to the vital organs in your body.
Stroke results from impaired blood flow to your brain. Meanwhile, a heart attack is caused by reduced blood flow to your heart.
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Heart Disease And Stroke
More than 877,500 Americans die of heart disease, stroke, or other cardiovascular diseases every year. Heart disease and stroke are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States.
CDC supports programs that help millions of Americans control their high blood pressure, prevent risk factors for heart disease and stroke, and reduce health disparities, which are differences in health across different geographic, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. These efforts have helped lower death rates from heart disease and stroke.
Stay Active And Quit Smoking
Good lifestyle habits can keep your health on track. Regular, moderate-to-intense exercise is key to reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Be active for 30 minutes or more on most or all days of the week. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. and contributes to heart disease and stroke. Use our tips to improve your chances of quitting smoking for good.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Heart Attack
If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.
How Can You Tell If A Person Is Having A Heart Attack Or Stroke
The warning signs of heart attack and stroke are not the same.
Heart attack symptoms and signs
The classic warning symptoms and signs of a heart attack in men and women may include:
- Chest pain or chest discomfort that may come and go
- Pain or discomfort that may radiate to the shoulders, arms, back, abdomen, jaw, or teeth
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Types Of Cardiac Problems Seen With Stroke
Heart problems that are common among people who have had a stroke include myocardial infarction , heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmiasespecially atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation.
Heart problems associated with strokes may be caused by the same underlying process that produced the stroke, most commonly thrombosis of an artery. Or, the heart problem may cause a stroke, such as when atrial fibrillation produces an embolus to the brain. Additionally, a stroke can precipitate a heart problem.
What Are Symptoms Of A Stroke
A stroke happens when a blood clot blocks the blood supply to a part of the brain, or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain can become damaged or die. Recovery from a stroke can take months or years. Some patients never fully recover.
The acronym FAST will help you recognize the warning signs of a stroke in yourself or a loved one:
- Face: Drooping on one side of face, numbness or sudden drooling.
- Arms: Trouble holding things or walking, numbness, or one arm drifts down or cant be raised.
- Speech: Slurred speech that doesnt make sense and trouble reading, writing and understanding what people are saying.
- Time: If you suspect a stroke, act quickly. Time is critical in preserving brain function.
Aileen Sauris is a Nurse Practitioner in the Cardiovascular Wellness Service at Brigham and Womens Hospital where she coordinates multidisciplinary patient care for the prevention of heart disease.
Ali Aziz-Sultan, MD, is Chief of Vascular/Endovascular Neurosurgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital .
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What Will My Recovery From Stroke Be Like
A stroke affects people in different ways. Youre likely to see the most improvement in the first few weeks of your recovery, usually while you’re still in hospital. However, it can take months or sometimes years.
Your rehabilitation will begin in hospital where specialists, such as nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists will discuss what help youll need. The aim of rehabilitation is to help return you as close as possible to how you were before the stroke. They also support you to live as independently as you can.
If youve had a stroke, you may be at risk of developing vascular dementia. This happens when a stroke damages part of your brain, leading to symptoms such as concentration problems and personality changes. If you have any concerns you should speak to your GP.
Stroke is sudden and can be devastating, but many people continue to improve and there is help and support available.
Symptom Overlap And Differences
There are some overlap in symptoms between the two including arm discomfort and pain, but the symptom differences are just as important to know, so you can potentially identify which medical issue youre facing and have a better chance of receiving proper treatment more quickly.The most common symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort, upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweat, fatigue, nausea, and light-headedness or dizziness. There are additional heart attack symptoms in women that weve covered before.As for strokes, the most common symptoms include confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden numbness on one side of the body, difficult balancing, dizziness, loss of coordination, trouble seeing, and sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or altered consciousness.Both strokes and heart attacks require immediate, serious medical attention. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or are afraid that you may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. If youre looking to explore your cardiac health in order to prevent heart attacks and have a better understanding of what your risk factors are, talk with your primary care provider or schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists today.
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Types Of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease covers a number of conditions that are related to lifestyle, including:
- coronary heart disease either angina or heart attack
- stroke either caused by a blockage with a blood clot or the rupturing of a blood vessel and bleeding
- peripheral vascular disease obstruction of the large blood vessels that supply blood to the arms and legs.
Cardiovascular disease conditions that are not related to lifestyle, include:
- acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease caused by an untreated infection with group A streptococcus bacteria
- congenital heart disease inherited conditions that affect the structure of the heart.
What Are The Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease
The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioural risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raisedblood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. These intermediate risks factors can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications.
Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Health policies that create conduciveenvironments for making healthy choices affordable and available are essential for motivating people to adopt and sustain healthy behaviours.
There are also a number of underlying determinants of CVDs. These are a reflection of the major forces driving social, economic and cultural change globalization, urbanization and population ageing. Other determinants of CVDs include poverty,stress and hereditary factors.
In addition, drug treatment of hypertension, diabetes and high blood lipids are necessary to reduce cardiovascular risk and prevent heart attacks and strokes among people with these conditions.
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Whats The Difference Between A Heart Attack And A Stroke
Heart attacks and strokes have quite a bit in common: they are both medical emergencies caused by a sudden cut-off in blood flow. In a heart attack, the blood flow to your heart is suddenly blocked. A stroke occurs because of a sudden interruption of blood flow in your brain. With both conditions, timely medical care is crucial for lowering the damage to your brain or heart.
Know the signs of stroke: Act F.A.S.T.
When someone is having a stroke, minutes matter its crucial that they receive care as quickly as possible to reduce the chances of brain damage. Call 911 right away if you notice any symptoms of a stroke in someone else or experience them yourself, including:
- Numbness or weakness in your face or limbs, especially affecting only one side of the body
- Confusion, difficulty speaking or trouble understanding others
- Blurred or impaired vision in one or both eyes
- Dizziness, difficulty walking or balance problems
- An excruciating headache with no known cause
When all else fails, remember to act F.A.S.T! F.A.S.T. is an established acronym to help you remember the signs of a stroke. It stands for:
- Face Is one side of the face drooping?
- Arms When raising both arms, does one drift downward?
- Speech Is speech slurred or garbled?
- Time Act quickly if you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.
Common heart attack symptoms
Know what symptoms to look for in yourself or a loved one, including:
Signs of aheart attack in women
Is chest pain always an emergency?
Stroke And Cardiac Arrhythmias
An arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate or rhythm. An arrhythmia can cause a stroke, and a stroke can also worsen or cause arrhythmias. Significant cardiac arrhythmias are seen during the first few days in 25% of patients admitted to the hospital with acute stroke.
The arrhythmia most frequently associated with stroke is atrial fibrillation, which accounts for more than half of stroke-related heart rhythm problems.
Life-threatening arrhythmias may also occur, including ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. In many cases, such potentially lethal arrhythmias are due to long QT syndrome, which may result from a stroke.
Significant bradycardia can also occur after a stroke. Usually, the bradycardia is transient, but occasionally significant heart block may be seen, requiring the insertion of a pacemaker.
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Live Well Today For A Healthier Tomorrow
The bottom line? Healthy living is the best way to delay or avoid many heart and brain diseases. This means being active and fit, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco and managing conditions that can put you at greater risk. Take charge of your health. Join Healthy for Good for tips, tools and inspiration to make changes and create healthy habits you can sustain throughout your life.
Which Is More Serious A Stroke Or A Heart Attack
Both a stroke and heart attack can be fatal, but a full recovery is also possible in many cases. The outcomes depend upon the severity of the events and how quickly medical support is provided.
With prompt, effective treatment, successful completion of cardiac rehabilitation, and a healthy lifestyle, a heart attack survivor may live many years with few reminders of the attack.
The prognosis after a stroke can be more difficult to predict. Depending on which part of the brain was damaged by the stroke, there can be lifelong complications even after rapid treatment and rehabilitation. Some long-term complications include:
- walking difficulties
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Check Your Fasting Glucose Blood Pressure Cholesterol And Bmi
Know the following health measures and work together with your health care provider to prevent heart disease and stroke:
- Fasting glucose: This test measures the amount of sugar in your blood after you havent eaten for at least 8 hours. Your fasting glucose should be less than 100 mg/dl.
- Blood pressure: A healthy blood pressure is about 120/80.
- Cholesterol: There are several measures of cholesterol that are important in determining cardiovascular disease risk. Your high density lipoprotein cholesterol should be greater than 50 mg/dl. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dl. Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dl.
- Body mass index : This is a measure of the relationship between your height and your weight. If your weight is too much for your height, you may have excess body fat. This can cause high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Your BMI should be between 18.5 and 24.0. Use this BMI Calculator to find out your BMI.