What’s the difference between a stroke and a heart attack?
It can be hard to tell the difference, especially if you don’t know what to look for. However, both conditions involve serious health risks, so it’s important to know how to identify them early on.
Let’s break down the key differences between a stroke and a heart attack, so you can be better prepared in case of an emergency.
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked, usually by a build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls or a blood clot. This can cause the heart muscle to take on damage and begin to fail
Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). Treatment for a heart attack usually involves taking medication to dissolve the blockage in the arteries and restore blood flow to the heart.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. This can happen as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel in the brain (ischemic stroke or mini stroke) or bleeding into brain tissue (hemorrhagic stroke).
What Are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack?
When it comes to heart attacks, there are a few symptoms that tend to stand out more than others. For one, pain in the chest is a common symptom of a heart attack, and it’s often described as a feeling of tightness or pressure. This pain may spread to the shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms, and it can last for several minutes or come and go.
Other common symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, lightheadedness or dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and fatigue.
What Are the Symptoms of a Stroke?
Unlike heart attacks or heart failure, the symptoms of a stroke depend on which area of the brain is affected. For example, if the stroke affects the part of the brain that controls movement, you may have paralysis or weakness on one side of your body. If the stroke affects the part that controls speech, you may have trouble speaking or understanding what others are saying.
Other possible symptoms include:
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple commands
- Sudden trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
What Are the Differences Between a Heart Attack and a Stroke?
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is blocked, usually by a build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries. This can cause the heart muscle to become damaged or even die.
A stroke, on the other hand, occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, either by a clot in an artery or bleeding in the brain. This can lead to paralysis, loss of speech, or even death.
Let’s break down the main differences between strokes and heart attacks.
Heart Attack
- Occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is blocked
- Can be caused by a build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries due to high cholesterol
- Can damage or kill the heart muscle
Stroke
- Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off
- Can be caused by a clot in an artery or bleeding in the brain
- Can lead to paralysis, loss of speech, or even death.
What Should You Do If You’re Experiencing Either Condition?
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack or stroke, it’s important to act fast and call 911. Every second counts when it comes to these life-threatening conditions. In these situations, it doesn’t really matter what the difference between a stroke and a heart attack is – only getting the treatment you need.
During a heart attack, time is of the essence. This is because the longer it takes to get treatment, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. A stroke is also a medical emergency. If blood flow to the brain is cut off, cells can start dying within minutes.
For both conditions, early recognition and treatment can mean the difference between life and death or between a full recovery and long-term disability.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, don’t delay, call 911 right away!
Looking For More Information on Heart Conditions and Treatment Options?
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a heart condition, it’s natural to want to learn as much as possible about the condition (including what’s the difference between a heart attack and a stroke, high blood pressure, etc) and the available treatment options. After all, knowledge is power when it comes to making informed decisions about one’s health.
Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to those seeking more information on heart conditions and treatment options. Here are just a couple:
- The American Heart Association is a great starting point for general information on heart conditions and treatments. Their website includes a wealth of resources, including an overview of different types of heart conditions, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is another excellent resource for information on heart conditions and treatments. In addition to providing general information on heart conditions, the CDC website also includes data and statistics on heart disease in the United States.
Consider Flow Therapy as a Heart Treatment Option
While the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke can be similar, there are some key differences between the two. If you’re experiencing any chest pain, shortness of breath, or other unusual symptoms, don’t wait – call 9-1-1 immediately.
Keep in mind, there are many treatment options available for heart attacks, including non-invasive treatment options such as Flow Therapy.For more information on heart conditions and treatment options, please visit our website or give us a call. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about how flow therapy might help you recover from a heart attack.
