If we talk about cardiovascular health, heart attack and strokes are the two worst conditions that may happen to a person. These two conditions are termed as similar but there are specific differences between these two medical emergencies.

People must be aware of the heart attack and stroke symptoms to ensure immediate treatment at the time of medical emergency. Dr. Dinesh Sehgal (Interventional Cardiologist, Sapra Multispecialty Hospital) is awaking and telling through this article about the difference between heart attack and strokes.

What is Heart Attack:

A Heart attack occurs due to reduced and blocked supply of blood to a coronary Artery which in turn blocked the blood supply to the Heart. The reduced and blocked supply occurs due to the presence of Plaque (fat and cholesterol deposits) that blocked the path of blood. Plaque formation is not a one-day activity, it gets formed over several years which can result in blood clots and death of heart muscle too. Heart muscles die due to insufficient supply of oxygen to it. When there is damage or death to the heart muscle due to a lack of oxygen, a heart attack can occur. Every 30 seconds, a person dies from a Heart attack.

What is Stroke:

A stroke is a medical condition that is related to Brain damage. It occurs when a blood vessel carrying essential nutrients to the brain gets damaged or blocked due to a blood clot. The low supply of blood to the brain stops the brain from working and hence stroke occurs.

Thus, we can see clearly that the similarity between heart attack and stroke is they both occur due to low oxygen and nutrient supply but to two different organs. 

Differences in symptoms:

Heart attack symptoms include Chest pain, upper body discomfort, pain that radiates down the left arm, shortness of breath, a cold sweat, tiredness, nausea, light-headedness or dizziness. In men and women, heart attack symptoms differ.

Strokes symptoms include sudden numbness in the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body, confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding speech, difficulty in walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination, sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, etc.

People who experience a heart attack or stroke need rapid treatment to prevent further damage and complications. If you experience any of these signs or are afraid you might have a heart attack or stroke, visit your health physician or cardiologist as early as possible. If you want to discuss your heart health to prevent heart attacks and have a better understanding of your risk factors, speak to the cardiologist as heart disease includes both heart attacks and strokes.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.