Due to the fact that every day the environmental condition worsens, poor heredity is more often manifested. Also, people lead the wrong lifestyle, because of this, too, cases of heart attack and stroke are becoming more frequent. But most fellow citizens believe that there is practically no difference between these diseases. But this is a blunder.
To find out how a stroke differs from a heart attack, you first need to know what causes these diseases. Both that, and another belong to the group of cardiological disorders. Only a few years ago, only elderly people could become ill with them. But in our time, this is more and more common among the younger generation.
Heart attack
What is the difference between a heart attack and a stroke? The answer to this question can be found by considering their characteristics. A heart attack is a disease of a local or all-encompassing organ. It occurs due to thrombosis in the vessels, as well as the lack of supply of nutrients and nutrients. Immediately after a heart attack (within three to four hours), necrosis can develop, and the organ gradually dies.
When making a diagnosis, the doctor should clarify the location of the lesion. These may be such bodies:
- heart muscle - myocardium;
- brain;
- liver;
- intestines.
Since the main cause of this disease is vascular thrombosis, this is the main difference from a stroke.
Stroke
And what is this disease? How is a stroke manifested? The work of the organs of the nervous system is disrupted, which affects blood circulation, more often it occurs in the brain. It can manifest itself in different ways:
- in the form of thrombosis, almost the same as with a heart attack;
- hemorrhage;
- cramp (this means that there is a sharp contraction of the artery).
A stroke occurs in a more severe form and is characterized by impaired functions, for which the brain is responsible.
There are such cases that a cerebral artery infarction is classified as a stroke. What is the difference in these diseases?
These two diseases are also different from each other in that after a stroke, the affected area of the brain will not recover, and the work of dead cells will fall as an additional burden on neighboring cells that function normally. And although rehabilitation takes a long time and requires a lot of patience, recovery is quite real.
Causes of occurrence
What is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack? To answer this question, it is necessary to highlight the causes of the occurrence provoked by such diseases:
- thrombosis in the vessels;
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- Infectious diseases (acute forms) that the patient suffers or has already suffered.
Also, poor heredity and environmental factors can trigger the development of the disease. In addition, the cause of this disease can be:
- alcohol, nicotine and drug addiction;
- stress, poor diet;
- excessive physical activity.
The first signs of two diseases
What is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack that they are so often confused? Although these are two different diseases, the symptoms are very similar. The first signs are:
- pallor and numbness of the body, in most cases accompanied by loss of consciousness;
- blood pressure deviates from the norm, most often it is elevated;
- facial features go numb, shortness of breath occurs, breathing problems appear, which, in turn, creates a great threat. At this moment, you need to carefully monitor so that the tongue does not sink and does not impede the flow of air into the body;
- sharp pain.
Symptom difference
At the next stage, it is easier to distinguish between these two diseases:
- If this is a stroke, then complete or partial paralysis of the body occurs.
- In the case of a heart attack, there are such signs: the earlobes turn black, the skin of the face acquires an earthy tint, and the lips turn blue. These and other symptoms may precede cardiac arrest. This is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack.
First aid
First aid is required in the first, and in the second case. To begin with, what should be done is to provide the patient with oxygen access, and then take measures to restore the normal functioning of the affected organ. If you do not know how to do this, it is better not to touch the victim, but to provide complete peace. Ambulance should be called as soon as possible.
In the event that it is a stroke, and within three hours the brain cells are not fed with the necessary substances, then necrosis will begin - cell death.
If this is a heart attack, then it is more likely that a fatal outcome will occur before the ambulance arrives. But even with the timely help of doctors to save a life, transplantation is necessary, or implantation of valves and plates of artificial origin will be required.
Stroke and cerebral infarction. Difference
What is the difference between stroke and cerebral infarction? The differences are as follows:
- With a stroke, the flow of blood to the brain is blocked. And this leads to tissue damage. A heart attack disrupts the nutrition of a damaged organ. This leads to the death of tissues.
- A stroke affects only the brain, and a heart attack - with the occurrence of necrosis - any organ.
- A heart attack refers to cardiovascular disease. Stroke is a neurological disease.
- There are many reasons for a stroke, but for a heart attack the main one is thrombosis;
- The result of a stroke is disability. After the second disease, death often occurs.
What is the difference between stroke and cerebral infarction? The difference can be noticed by the symptoms:
- During a stroke, dizziness occurs, gait becomes shaky. With a heart attack, such signs are not observed.
- When a stroke occurs, the patient loses consciousness. During a heart attack, he experiences a sharp weakness.
- When a stroke begins, numbness of the extremities, difficulty in movements are observed. And with a heart attack due to severe pain, activity is manifested.
Stroke and myocardial infarction. Differences
What is the difference between a stroke and myocardial infarction? Here are the first symptoms of a heart attack:
- the occurrence of compressive pain, which radiates to the left side of the body above the waist, as well as to the jaw and throat;
- can distinguish tachycardia;
- the nasolabial triangle turns blue, the skin of the face darkens, and with it the earlobes;
- there is severe shortness of breath;
- arrhythmia, sharp pain in the abdomen;
- unusual cough.
In rare cases, the only symptom is complete heart failure.
Consequences of disease
If we talk about how a stroke differs from a heart attack and which of these diseases is more dangerous, then there is no definite answer. Although with a heart attack, a fatal outcome is more common. But with a stroke, it is also possible. But both after the transfer of one disease, and after another, there are serious consequences.
Consequences after a stroke:
- paralysis and paresis;
- pneumonia;
- coma;
- intellectual disabilities - dementia;
- amnesia;
- pains appear in different parts of the body, as well as numbness of the limbs.
The consequences of a heart attack:
- heart rhythm is disturbed, arrhythmia occurs;
- decreased heart function;
- manifestation of cardiogenic shock;
- heart muscle tears are possible.
One combines these two diseases - a threat to human health and further human life.