Heart attacks and strokes have a lot in common. Both are medical emergencies, and both involve blood not reaching where it needs to go. If you think you’re having either, call emergency services (10177 or your nearest hospital) right away.
Knowing which is which can help you communicate better with paramedics so they can guide you until help arrives. It’s also useful knowledge if you’re with someone who might be having one of these events. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), every 40 seconds someone has a heart attack in the U.S. — and South Africa’s numbers aren’t far off, with cardiovascular disease ranking among the country’s leading causes of death.
According to Rabia Rafi Razi, M.D., assistant professor of clinical science at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena, California, the key difference between a heart attack and a stroke is where the blockage occurs. A heart attack involves a coronary artery, while a stroke involves a cerebral artery in the brain.
“The cause is usually very similar — a blockage in the arteries causes decreased blood supply to the organ,” says Dr Razi. “In fact, sometimes a stroke is known as a ‘brain attack.’”
What Is a Heart Attack?
According to the AHA, a heart attack happens when the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle narrow due to a buildup of plaque, a mix of fat, cholesterol, and other substances.
When this plaque accumulates, a blood clot can form around it, blocking blood flow to the heart muscle and causing damage or even death to the tissue.
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“Rarely, these blockages can be caused by a blood clot that is travelling through the bloodstream,” says Dr Razi. “There are also instances where the arteries are clear, but blood pressure drops so much that blood flow decreases within the arteries.”
What Is a Stroke?
In a stroke, blood flow to the brain is interrupted either because a vessel is blocked or because it bursts. Other causes can include irregular heartbeats such as atrial fibrillation, problems with heart structure, hardening of the arteries, or blood-clotting disorders.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
According to the AHA, heart attack symptoms can include:
- Chest pain that lingers for more than a few minutes
- Discomfort or pain in one or both arms
- Jaw, neck, or back pain
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweats
- Light-headedness, nausea, or vomiting
Symptoms of a Stroke
These are quite different and often more distinct than the signs of a heart attack. According to the CDC, signs include:
- Drooping face
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the arms
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
- Slurred or hard-to-understand speech
- Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing
- Severe headache with no known cause
How to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke
Prevention strategies for a heart attack and stroke are the same. “There are a whole host of lifestyle factors that can reduce risks of heart attacks and strokes,” Dr. Razi says. “Smoking cessation is probably one of the biggest things that an individual can do to decrease their risk of heart attacks and stroke,” Dr. Razi says. Diet and exercise can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, both of which raise your risk for heart attack and stroke.
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It’s important to see a doctor and get the right tests to know what your risk of heart attack and stroke is and figure out how to take that risk down. For instance, “for someone that is at high risk of having a heart attack or a stroke, statin medications have shown great preventive benefits,” Dr. Razi says. The American Heart Association says that about 80 percent of cardiovascular disease, which includes stroke and heart attack, is preventable. Ask a doc, dietician or other healthcare pro for tips if you’re struggling over how to get going to reduce your risk.
This article by Emilia Benton was originally published on Men’s Health US – additional reporting and products added by the Men’s Health SA team.
