Heart Attack and Stroke: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Contrary to what most people believe, heart attack and stroke are two different things. Heart attack pertains to the damage caused to the muscle of the heart which is usually associated to the lack of oxygen-rich blood flow. A heart attack may also result from the build up of waxy substances called as plaques within the walls of blood vessels and arteries of the heart. A stroke, on the other hand, occurs when there is a formation of clot which blocks the blood flow to the brain.

How a Heart Attack Happens
Over time, waxy substances made of fibrin or fatty substances accumulate and form into a clot that adheres itself on the walls of major blood vessels and the arteries of the heart. This is also referred to as plaque build-up. When this happens, a narrowing of the blood vessels occur. The plaque build up prevents the blood to flow to and from the heart, resulting to oxygen deprivation. When the blood supply to the muscle of the heart is blocked, it will slowly begin to die. When this happens, heart attack symptoms such as chest pain and discomfort occur.

When the blood flow to and from a coronary artery is severely decreased or stopped, it damages the heart muscle since it does not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutrients. The supply of oxygen-rich blood is mainly reduced by coronary spasms, blood clots and atherosclerosis or plaque build ups. Blood clots often occur from the rupturing of an existent atherosclerosis condition or cholesterol plaque build-up.

When the blood flow to and from the coronary artery is severely compromised by a plaque build up, the affected area will eventually die. When this happens, the ability of the heart to function normally is substantially diminished. Having a blockage will prevent the heart muscle to pump out blood to every part of the body. This condition is called heart failure. If the damage to the heart muscle is too severe, nerve fibers located within the heart also begin to die. If a large amount of nerve fibers die, the heart will then stop beating. This even is called a cardiac arrest, which sadly, most often than not, result in the death of the person.

Detecting a Heart Attack
A lot of people are not aware of the different signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke. However, it is very important for a person to be aware of the do’s and don’ts in order to avoid heart attack, especially if he or she has a family history of this medical condition. Detecting the signs and symptoms of a heart attack may not only prove to be very helpful to you, but knowing how to respond during the first hour of a heart attack may save your life, or may save others’ lives as well. The most common symptoms of a heart attack include angina or angina pectoris, dizziness, extreme chest pains or discomforts, terrible pressure in the center of the chest, and a burning or squeezing sensation on the chest.

How Stroke Occurs
Similar to the heart muscle, the brain also requires a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood for it to function smoothly and normally. The brain gets its blood supply from four main arteries. There are two vertebral arteries that supply blood to the brain as well as two carotid arteries. When the flow of blood is stopped or is greatly reduced by blood clotting, cholesterol plaques, or spasm obstructions a person is more likely to suffer from a stroke. When a blockage is preventing the blood to flow to and from the brain, the brain tissue is damaged. There are many different types of neurological symptoms, but their manifestation and development depend on the length of the attack, location, and the affected areas.

Overview of Stroke
Since there are four main brain parts, namely the left hemisphere, the right hemisphere, the brain stem, and the cerebellum, there are different disabilities which can be brought upon by a stroke. This will depend on the affected area in the brain where the stroke attack was triggered. The left hemisphere is responsible for controlling the right side of the body as well as language memory and speech. The right hemisphere is responsible for the whole left side of the body, short term memory, positioning, speed, size and analytical thinking. The brain stem’s responsibility is to control crucial life functions such as heart beat, hearing, swallowing, speech, eye movements and blood pressure.

Symptoms of a Stroke
There are many different symptoms which arise and develop among people who suffer from a stroke. Symptoms include numbness on one side of the body, leg, arm and face. Sudden falls that may result from unexplainable unsteadiness and dizziness are also typical indications of impending stroke. If a person has trouble understanding speech, has trouble talking, or has a sudden loss of speech, he or she might be suffering from a stroke attack. Transient ischemic attacks or temporary strokes may occur within days, weeks or months before a serious stroke happens. Temporary strokes are a result of a temporary clotting in one part of the brain or in an artery.

Treatments for Heart Attack and Stroke
There are treatments for heart attack and stroke patients that are widely used all over the world. Heart attack treatments include medications, surgeries such as cardiac bypass graft surgery, stenting and therapies. Stroke treatments will depend on the affected area and upon determining whether the stroke is hemorrhagic or ischemic. Hemorrhagic strokes can be treated through brain surgeries that aim to repair damaged arteries or blood vessels. Ischemic strokes can be treated by intravenous tissue plasminogen activators, intra-arterial thrombolysis, and through the MERCI retriever.

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