Heart disease and stroke are common, but some risk factors are within your control. These include diet, exercise, weight, and a healthy lifestyle.
A heart attack happens when a blood vessel that supplies oxygen to the heart becomes blocked by plaque. A stroke is a brain injury caused by blocked or burst blood vessels (hemorrhagic or thrombotic). Both can be deadly.
Symptoms
Heart disease and stroke are the nation’s leading causes of death. NIH-funded research is helping people survive these medical emergencies, but only if they get quick treatment. Someone dies from a heart attack every 90 seconds and a stroke occurs every four minutes. Symptoms of both are similar and can be mistaken for other health problems. Recognizing the difference between heart and stroke symptoms can make all the difference in getting the right kind of help quickly.
In a heart attack, a blood vessel that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the heart is blocked or severely restricted by a clot. Symptoms may include pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back, pressure, squeezing or fullness, or an unusual sensation in the arms, neck, jaw or stomach. Other symptoms include feeling weak or light-headed, breaking out in a cold sweat, or difficulty breathing.
A stroke happens when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. Symptoms of a stroke can include weakness on one side of the body, sudden numbness or loss of movement in an arm or leg, confusion or trouble speaking, and a sudden headache. Sometimes, symptoms go away after 10 to 20 minutes, but if they don’t, call 911 for help.
Even if a person doesn’t have any of the classic symptoms, he or she should be taken to the hospital immediately for a checkup. If the person has been having a heart attack or stroke, he or she needs to be given a clot-busting drug within three hours of when symptoms first appeared.
To diagnose a heart attack, doctors will ask for a description of the symptoms and the person’s medical history. They will do an electrocardiogram (ECG), which checks how the heart is functioning, and a CT scan of the head to look for a clot in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. An MRI scan is also often done to check for damage to the brain.
Diagnosis
Heart disease and stroke both occur when the flow of oxygen-rich blood is interrupted. This leads to the death of brain or heart cells. The symptoms are different for each, but they both can be life-threatening. Recognizing the symptoms can help you get prompt medical attention.
A heart attack happens when an artery in the chest is blocked by a blood clot. It can cause a fluttering feeling in the chest, pain in one or both arms, jaw stiffness, and nausea or vomiting. You may also feel sweaty or have a light-headed feeling.
If you think someone is having a heart attack, call 911. It’s important to call right away because the sooner treatment begins, the lower the risk of permanent damage and complications.
The first thing healthcare professionals will do is check your breathing and heart rate, and take a blood sample to test for signs of heart disease and diabetes. They will also do a neurological exam and an imaging test to look for damage to the brain and blood vessels.
If they think you’re having a stroke, they’ll do the FAST test. Ask the person to smile and raise both their arms. Does one arm drift downward? Does the person speak clearly? Is the face drooping? FAST stands for facial weakness, arm weakness, speech difficulty and time to call 911.
Some medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), raise your risk for a stroke because they can lead to an irregular heartbeat that allows blood to pool in the heart and form clots. This can then travel to the brain, causing an ischemic stroke. Other stroke risk factors include high blood pressure and smoking.
You’re at higher risk for stroke if you’ve had a previous stroke, or if you’ve had Bell’s palsy, a condition that affects one side of the face and can lead to a drooping eyelid. Other risk factors include your age, race and gender. For example, African Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure and diabetes, which both increase the risk of stroke. They are also more likely to have a family history of stroke or to have had a previous TIA or stroke.
Treatment
The key to recovery from a heart attack or stroke is getting immediate treatment. That’s because both occur when blood flow to critical body parts stops, causing cells to malfunction and die. NIH-funded research has made it possible to treat these medical emergencies with medicines, procedures and devices that can limit the damage.
If you have a heart attack or stroke, you will probably need to be hospitalized. A healthcare professional will check for symptoms of a problem with your heart (such as pain in the chest or jaw) and will do an electrocardiogram (ECG).
After a stroke, you may need surgery to remove excess fluid or relieve pressure on the brain from hemorrhagic strokes. You also might need surgery to repair blood vessels damaged by a hemorrhage or aneurysm.
If the artery that supplies blood to your brain is blocked, you may need clot-busting drugs to restore blood flow. The doctor may also give you other medication to prevent another stroke, such as dipyridamole or cilostazol. You may take long-term medications to help reduce your risk of having more strokes, such as anticoagulants or medication to control your blood pressure and cholesterol.
A TIA is often called a “mini-stroke.” It has the same symptoms as a stroke, but doesn’t cause lasting damage. It’s a good idea to tell your healthcare professional about any TIAs you have, because they can be warning signs of a stroke.
People who have had a stroke are at high risk for future heart problems. That’s because a heart problem, such as thrombosis or a heart rhythm disorder, can lead to a stroke or be followed by one. Those who have had a stroke also are at high risk for a heart attack.
Prevention
Cardiovascular diseases—including heart disease and stroke—are largely preventable. These are major causes of death and disability in the United States and cause many health disparities. Most deaths from heart disease and stroke are caused by conditions such as high blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, and being overweight or obese. Other important risk factors include physical inactivity, poor diet, and harmful use of alcohol and tobacco. People can make healthy changes in their daily activities that can lower their risk. The most important behaviours to change are eating a balanced diet, being physically active, not smoking or using other forms of tobacco, and drinking alcohol in moderation. People can also reduce their risk by getting regular check-ups, including blood pressure screening, to ensure they are at a healthy level.
CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) works to prevent heart disease and stroke by working with partners in government, public health, and the private sector. DHDSP is focused on developing and implementing innovative approaches to reduce heart disease and stroke risk factors, with a particular emphasis on high blood pressure; improving recognition of symptoms, especially in women, and the quality of care after a heart attack or stroke; and reducing health disparities.
DHDSP works to reach the ultimate goal of a heart-healthy and stroke-free nation through several national initiatives. These include Million Hearts, a public-private partnership to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years; the National Action Plan on Cardiovascular Disease; and the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program.
CDC’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HASP) funds programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 12 tribes, 23 tribal-serving organizations, and 2 groups of large cities or counties to prevent heart disease and stroke in those at highest risk. HASP’s work includes funding the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN), which helps uninsured low-income women ages 40 to 64 understand their risk factors for heart disease and stroke and connects them with lifestyle programs and other community resources that promote lasting, healthy behaviors.