
How a Heart Attack Happens
- Over time, cholesterol and other substances can build up in the wall of the arteries in your heart, narrowing them. This build up is called plaque.
- A piece of plaque can break off, blocking the flow of blood to your heart and cutting off the oxygen and nutrients your heart needs.
- When the blood flow is blocked completely, you have a heart attack and the part of your heart muscle affected can be severely damaged or die.
- Many people who have a heart attack recover, but it takes time and a commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle
How a Stroke Happens
When you have a stroke, vital areas of your brain do not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function properly. This can lead to permanent damage to the areas of the brain affected. In turn, the body functions controlled by the injured parts of the brain will not work properly. This is why stroke can be so disabling.
Depending on the part of brain affected, stroke can cause:
- Paralysis
- Walking problems
- Vision problems
- Problems with speech and language
- Memory loss
- Loss of control of bodily functions
- Inability to care for oneself properly
- Behavior and personality changes
While a full-fledged stroke can occur with no warning, many people with blocked arteries experience small strokes, called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Symptoms can include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion or difficulty in talking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden difficulty with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination
TIAs occur when a clot forms in the brain, causing symptoms, but then resolves itself before causing major damage. Even though symptoms disappear quickly, TIAs are a warning sign that you are at risk of a major stroke. If you have a TIA, you should take action immediately to prevent a full-blown stroke.
- Take steps to manage your risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including getting all your cholesterol numbers to healthy levels.
- Know the Signs of Stroke
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
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