Stroke vs Heart Attack: How to Tell the Difference and Act Fast

Both

heart attack and stroke are very common conditions – yet both are similar as well. While both are medical emergencies caused by a sudden cut-off in blood flow, doctors suggest you must know the main difference so that you may be able to get better and faster medical help, either for a loved one or yourself. In a heart attack, the blood flow to your heart is suddenly blocked, but 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.

What happens when you get a stroke?

According to experts, a stroke occurs when the blood vessel that is carrying blood to your brain gets blocked or bursts open. It can lead to brain damage, which may cause permanent or temporary disability, or even death. Strokes are of two types:

• An ischemic stroke, which happens in more than 80 per cent of cases, occurs when a clot blocks a blood vessel, impairing blood flow within the brain.
• However, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs in around 15 to 20 per cent of stroke cases and develops when a blood vessel within the brain bursts open, causing bleeding in or surrounding the brain.

What are the symptoms of a stroke you must not ignore?

Doctors say the signs of a stroke usually begin suddenly, even though they build up over hours or even a few days. Depending on which area of the brain is supplied by the blocked or ruptured blood vessel, symptoms and signs will vary, which include:

• Facial drooping or numbness on one side
• Weakness or numbness in one arm or leg
• Speech problems, like slurred speech, or difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Confusion
• Vision changes
• Dizziness or impaired balance and coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause

F.A.S.T. helps identify a stroke:

• F for face drooping
• A for arm weakness
• S for speech difficulty
• T for time to call the emergency services

What happens when you get a heart attack?

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, happens when the blood flow to the heart muscle through the coronary arteries is impaired. According to doctors, coronary artery disease is the most common cause of a heart attack, characterized by the gradual buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits – known as plaque. The plague not only ruptures the coronary arteries but also leads to the formation of blood clots, which can partially or wholly stop the supply of blood flow, leading to a heart attack.

Signs of a heart attack you must not ignore

While most heart attacks cause discomfort in the middle of the chest, a few other symptoms include:

• Chest pain and squeezing, pressure-like, tight, full, heavy, or crushing sensation
• Extreme discomfort in your chest
• Jaw pain
• Breathlessness
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Nausea or vomiting
• Extreme tiredness and fatigue
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Upset stomach