Heart Attack and Stroke:
Know the Differences
By: Syed Abbas Agha, MD
Many people do not know the differences
between a heart attack and a stroke, two of the
top five killers in America. Knowing the risks,
symptoms and how to respond can save a life,
perhaps even your own.
A heart attack happens when the blood
supply to part of the heart muscle is severely
decreased or stopped because of one or more
of the coronary arteries (arteries of the heart)
are clogged with fatty build-up called plaque.
The plaque will often tear or rupture, which
causes a blood clot to form, block the artery
and cause a heart attack.
Though television and the movies often
portray heart attacks as being sudden and
intense, most heart attacks start slowly.
Because of the slow start and mild discomfort,
people often wait too long before getting help.
Heart attack warning signs include:
· Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or
leg – often on one side of the body;
· Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
speech;
· Trouble seeing with one or both eyes;
· Trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance
or coordination; and
· Severe headache with no known cause.
Research has shown that taking an aspirin
every day can help prevent heart attacks and
strokes. Aspirin interferes with blood’s clotting
action, which reduces the risk of clot formation
in the arteries. Before beginning aspirin
therapy, however, consult with your health
care provider.
If you or a loved one experiences any of
these symptoms of a heart attack
or stroke, one should call 911 or an emergency medical services number immediately.
To find a physician close to you, visit
Weatherford Regional Medical Center’s online Physician Directory at
WeatherfordRegional.com/Physicians
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
About the Author: Dr. Agha is an Interventional Cardiologist at the Heart
Center of North Texas and an independent member of the medical staff
at Weatherford Regional Medical Center.
FEBRUARY 2016
· Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness
or pain in the center of the chest, which will
usually either last a few minutes, or go away
and come back;
· Discomfort in the upper body such as in one
or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach;
· Shortness of breath; and
· Cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness.
Unlike a heart attack, a stroke occurs when
blood flow to the brain is disrupted, reducing
the amount of oxygen it receives. There are
two different types of strokes: ischemic and
hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes, which account
for about 88 percent of all cases, happen when
the brain does not get enough oxygen-rich
blood. Usually this happens due to a blood clot
blocking a major artery leading to the brain. A
hemorrhagic stroke takes place when excessive bleeding is present in or around the brain.
A stroke’s warning signs take place suddenly
and include:
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