Heart attack and stroke are among the top three deadliest conditions in the United States. Doctors will normally use blood tests to help diagnose both conditions, along with imaging tests such as an MRI or a CT scan. It can be difficult to predict when either condition will strike, but a doctor may be able to make lifestyle recommendations that can help reduce the possibility of an attack.
Misconceptions
One of the common misconceptions about heart attacks and strokes is that they are essentially the same event. This is not true. A heart attack is the result of a blockage of blood coming from or going to the heart. A blood clot gets into the main coronary artery and deprives the heart of blood and oxygen. Because of this, the heart muscle begins to die, and this causes a heart attack. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. Without a constant supply of blood and oxygen, brain cells rapidly begin to die, and this causes a stroke.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Heart attack symptoms normally take many years to develop, and a heart attack may be avoided if attention is paid to the initial symptoms. These symptoms include pain in the chest that can start off as a sharp pain and then develop into a constant burning pain, shallowness or shortness of breath and pain that radiates from the chest to the back and possibly to the jaw. The initial symptoms are chest pain and breathing difficulty. If these are reported to a doctor, the patient might be able to unclog the arteries near the heart with medication, a change in diet and adding exercise to the daily routine.
Stroke Symptoms
Stroke symptoms tend to be sudden and happen without any warning. These symptoms include a painful sensation that rapidly progresses to a numb feeling in one side of the body, a severe headache that comes on suddenly, a weakened feeling in the muscles on one side of the body, difficulty in speaking and seeing, a total loss of balance that results in an inability to walk and a sudden strong feeling of confusion and anxiety.
Potential
There are many similarities between heart attacks and strokes. They can vary in severity. They can be mild or they can be fatal. Any initial symptoms should be immediately reported to a medical professional. Regardless of the severity, time is of the essence in both a heart attack and a stroke. In a heart attack, the heart is no longer pumping blood to the body and the internal organs are dying, and in a stroke, brain cells that cannot be repaired are dying. In both conditions, the longer it takes to get medical assistance, the greater the chance of permanent damage or death.
Prolific Killers
According to the American Heart Association, heart attack is the most prolific cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the third-highest cause of death and one of the top reasons for prolonged physical disability. This underscores the importance of getting regular screening for both conditions, and why reporting symptoms is extremely important.
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