Heart Attack & Stroke – How are they different?

By Dr. Rishabh Mathur Dr. Krishna Hari Sharma in Cardiology Neurology

Jan 24, 2023

A heart attack and a stroke are both serious medical conditions that require immediate medical intervention. Both these conditions occur all of a sudden and may lead to fatal life conditions, including death. Therefore, being well aware of the two conditions is essential to ensure proper treatment at the earliest.

Both stroke and heart attack occur as a result of inadequate oxygenated blood flow leading to damage and death of the cells of the affected organs. Although the process of treatment for these conditions differs, providing medical attention as soon as possible is key to survival, recovery, or avoiding permanent damage to the tissues.

What is a Stroke?

It is more commonly referred to as a “brain stroke”. As the name suggests, a stroke is a serious medical condition caused by obstruction of blood flow to the brain. It can be a result of blockage or lacerations of the blood vessels of the brain. The lack of oxygen can lead to damage and eventual death of the brain cells.

There can be two types of strokes in patients:

• Ischemic stroke which occurs as a result of blockage within a blood vessel
• Hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to bleeding from the blood vessels inside the brain.

Symptoms of Stroke

The symptoms of a stroke happen suddenly and may include:

• Numbness or weakness of the face and limbs, usually on either side of the body
• The difficulty in seeing (unclear vision) in one or both eyes
• Confusion
• Difficulty in communication
• Difficulty in walking, coordinating
• Feeling dizzy or losing balance
• Sudden severe headache

After-Effects of Stroke

A patient who has suffered from a stroke can experience some side effects, including-

• Paralysis on either side of the body
• Speech impairment
• Memory loss
• Behavioral and cognitive issues
• Vision problems
• Death

Causes of Stroke

The causes of a stroke are various, and there are major factors that increase the risk of a stroke.

Ischemic stroke can occur as a result of the following-

• High blood pressure
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Diseases of the heart
• Use of alcohol and/or drugs
• Family history of heart disease or strokes
• Old age
• Uncontrolled cholesterol
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diet

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic stroke can be caused due to three reasons:

• Aneurysm, which occurs due to the “ballooning” of a blood vessel in the brain, which ruptures & lead to blood collected in brain.
• Arterial malformation of the brain.
• Hemorrhagic stroke can also be a result of a blow or trauma to the brain.

Treatment of Stroke

Initial treatment of ischemic stroke includes administration of tissue plasminogen activator within the first few hours. Comprehensive testing via computerized tomography (CT) is essential to determine the course of treatment which may include further administration of medicines or surgical/endovascular procedures.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs due to obstruction in the flow of blood to the heart. It can happen as a result of the accumulation of plaque within the blood vessels. It is also called Myocardial Infarction. When the heart muscles are not getting enough oxygen, they start to get damaged and eventually die.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

The primary symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or feeling of discomfort in the chest along with pain in the left arm. 

Other prominent symptoms of a heart attack are:

• Dizziness
• Pain in the jaw, neck, shoulders, back, arms
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness with no cause
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Sweating
• Heart Palpitations

A heart attack can lead to severe stress on the body. There can be lifelong consequences and increases the risk of:

• Arrhythmia (abnormal beating of the heart)
• Heart failure
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest (when the heart stops working)

Causes

Heart attack is mostly caused by coronary artery diseases and is a leading cause of death among heart patients worldwide. Medical conditions that can lead to heart attacks include:

• Hypertension, or high blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Uncontrolled high blood sugar

Lifestyle habits that can cause heart attacks-

• Smoking
• Alcohol or illegal drug abuse
• Intake of food rich in fat, salt, and sugar
• Lack of physical exercise
• Old age and a family history of heart conditions are additional causes that can lead to heart attacks.

Treatment of Heart Attack

Diagnosis is done by ECG and by performing a Coronary Angiogram that will determine the course of treatment. The treatment procedures include:

• Use of clot-dissolving drugs
• Performing Balloon Angioplasty
• Stent Insertion
• Bypass Surgery
• Minimally invasive heart surgery

Summarising

Heart attack and stroke are both life-threatening medical conditions that can lead to death if not treated within time. Although genetic influence and age-related causes cannot be avoided, other risk factors can be addressed by following a healthy diet accompanied by healthy lifestyle choices, including exercising regularly, managing existing medical conditions effectively, such as diabetes, and refraining from smoking and drinking.

If you suspect someone is having a stroke or a heart attack, you should seek medical help immediately to avoid long-term consequences.