Stroke vs. Heart Attack: What’s the Difference?

Stroke and heart attack are medical emergencies affecting different parts of the body. A stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted, often due to a clot. On the contrary, a heart attack occurs when blood flow is blocked, typically from a clot in the coronary arteries. 

According to a study, stroke and heart attack have similar risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. However, they impact the body differently. It is crucial to recognize the symptoms early. 

For example, strokes are often identified as sudden numbness or confusion. On the other hand, heart attacks cause chest pain or shortness of breath. Hence, being informed helps people take prompt action during critical scenarios. Immediate medical attention is crucial, whether it is recognizing a heart attack or stroke. In this blog, let us dig further into the differences between a heart attack and a stroke and assess stroke vs heart attack. 

What are the signs of a stroke?

When someone is experiencing a stroke, every second matters. It is crucial that they receive care at the earliest. This helps reduce the chances of brain damage. Call 911 immediately if you notice symptoms of a stroke, including the following:

• Numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, affecting one side of the body. 
• Difficulty in speaking or having trouble understanding others 
• Blurred or impaired vision in one or both eyes
• Difficulty walking or balance problems causing dizziness 
• Headache with no known cause 

There is an easy formula to remember when everything fails. Act F.A.S.T!

Face: Is one side of the face dropping?

Arms: When raising both arms, does one drift downward?

Speech: Is the speech slurred?

Time: Act fast. If you observe any of the signs, then call 911 immediately. 

What are the common heart attack symptoms?

Quick heart attack treatment is crucial. Prompt medical care reduces the amount of heart damage, but it may save your life. 

Here are symptoms to look for: 

• Chest pain, especially on the left side or center of your chest 
• Discomfort that radiates from the chest through shoulders or arms 
• Neck, jaw, or back pain 
• Feelings of fullness, pressure, or squeezing in your chest 
• Lightheadedness or weakness 

What can you do?

If you suspect someone is having a stroke, call 911. Make sure that the patient is safe, and monitor them closely while waiting for emergency medical services. Take a note of the symptoms and be accurate. This information can be helpful for medical personnel. 

What are the signs of a heart attack in women?

So what does a stroke feel like? While women also experience chest pain with a heart attack, they are more likely than men to experience less specific heart attack symptoms, including: 

• Back pain 
• Anxiety 
• Indigestion 
• Severe fatigue 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Indigestion 

As these symptoms vary from what women may read about heart attacks, many women delay treatment. But a heart attack is an emergency. The sooner you get treatment, the less damage you will suffer. 

Read more: Common Symptoms of Heart Attack in Women

What can you do?

If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, call 911 and seek medical treatment. If a patient stops breathing, use a defibrillator and perform CPR. 

Is chest pain always an emergency?

Chest pain is a primary symptom, however there are several conditions that may cause chest pain. Lung conditions, heart disease, and anxiety may cause discomfort. If you experience chest pain that comes suddenly and does not go, seek immediate care. 

Moreover, if the chest pain worsens during the physical activity and reduces during rest, it may be angina or chest pain caused by heart disease. You should not wait to seek treatment. Consult with your healthcare provider and seek diagnosis and treatment. 

Stroke vs. Heart attack: What’s the difference?

Feature	Stroke	Heart attack
Definition	Occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked	Occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked
Cause	Clot or burst blood vessel in the brain	Clot or blockage in coronary arteries
Primary symptoms	Sudden numbness, confusion, trouble speaking	Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea
Affected area	Brain	Heart
Risk factors	High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes	High cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking
Emergency action	Seek immediate medical help; use FAST method	Call 911, give aspirin if not allergic
Common long-term effects	Paralysis, speech difficulties, memory issues	Heart failure, irregular heartbeat, fatigue
Prevention strategies	Control blood pressure, healthy lifestyle	Lower cholesterol, exercise, healthy diet

Long-Term Impact: Brain Damage vs. Heart Damage

Individuals suffer a long term impact when it comes to strokes and heart attacks. It is crucial to understand the differences to prepare yourself for recovery. Here is how your brain and damage may be affected:

How does a stroke affect the brain?

A stroke occurs when the blood flow is disrupted. This deprives oxygen in brain cells. So the longer the brain goes without oxygen, the more damage occurs. The long-term effect of a stroke can vary depending on the part of the brain and the quality of medical attention offered. 

The common long-term effects of a stroke include paralysis, which occurs on one side of the body. This causes difficulty in speaking. It gets difficult to perform simple tasks such as tying shoes. 

Recovering from a stroke needs physical and speech therapy to help regain the lost functions. However, it is important to know that progress can be slow and hence needs support, patience, and consistency. 

Read more: Signs of Impending Death After Stroke

How does a heart attack damage the heart muscle?

Strokes affect the brain, and a heart attack damages the heart muscles. When the heart is deprived of oxygen, it fails to pump blood efficiently. The damage caused can weaken the heart and lead to conditions like heart failure and chronic fatigue. 

Individuals experiencing heart attacks face challenges in coping with physical stamina and require medications. Cardiac rehabilitation helps rebuild heart strength; however, you cannot reverse the damage caused. 

How to lower the risk of stroke?

For all of us, preventing a stroke may be challenging. However, if you incorporate the right lifestyle changes, you can lower the risk. Here are a few simple steps to protect your brain and health: 

Control your blood pressure: 

Among the leading causes of stroke, high blood pressure tops the list. If you regularly monitor, it can dramatically reduce the risk. Invest in making lifestyle changes such as reducing sodium, eating potassium-rich food, and exercising well to keep your blood pressure healthy. 

Stay active: 

Regular exercise does not keep your heart healthy. It helps in protecting your brain. Perform physical activity for 30 minutes at least. You can include activities such as swimming, brisk walking, and cycling. Moreover, staying active helps to manage weight and prevent stroke. 

Eat a healthy diet: 

Eat what is healthy for your brain. Focus on a rich diet in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins. Avoid processed foods, excessive sugar, and unhealthy fats to keep your arteries clear. 

Quit smoking: 

Smoking is harmful for your blood vessels and makes you prone to clots. This leads to a stroke. If you quit smoking, you can safeguard your health effectively. It may not be an easy process, but you can seek help. The benefits are rewarding and decrease the risk of stroke over time. 

How to lower the risk of a heart attack?

Preventing a heart attack is about taking care of your heart through lifestyle choices. Here are some small changes you can incorporate: 

Maintain a healthy diet: 

Eat a balanced diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, which keeps your heart healthy. Reduce your consumption of saturated fats and excessive sugar to reduce cholesterol levels. Avoid eating unhealthy snacks and replace them with healthier alternatives, such as nuts and fruits. 

Stay active: 

Stay physically active; regular exercise strengthens your heart and boosts circulation. Perform at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise like swimming. Physical activity controls weight and reduces strain on your heart. 

Manage stress: 

Stress brings a lot of challenges and can increase blood pressure in your heart. Try performing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and medication. Pay stress on your mental well-being. 

Does stroke and heart attack occur more in males than females?

Both strokes and heart attacks affect men and women. However, the outcomes and risk tend to vary between genders. According to a study report, men are more prone to experience heart attacks at an earlier age as compared to women. However, after menopause, women tend to face unique risk factors related to pregnancy that increase the chance of stroke. 

In both cases, men and women must manage their health. Early detection and prevention efforts can reduce the likelihood of outcomes. 

How do you manage cardiac arrest and stroke?

It is crucial to recognize the symptoms quickly and respond effectively. Here are a few steps to consider: 

Learn CPR and first aid: 

Seek a certified CPR course to act fast during cardiac arrest. It keeps blood circulating until professional help arrives. Learn how to use an automated external defibrillator to boost survival rates. 

Recognize the symptoms: 

Know the early signs of cardiac arrest and stroke. The symptoms of cardiac arrest include lack of pulse, sudden collapse, and no breathing. On the other hand, the symptoms of stroke involve confusion, numbness, and trouble speaking. Identify the symptoms to seek help. 

Have an emergency plan: 

Make sure that you have an emergency plan ready. Teach others where the AED is located to be informed during emergencies. Time is crucial; hence, you need to act confidently. 

Take the first step to safety

The differences between stroke and cardiac arrest are significant. Although they share similarities, they affect different parts of the body and need different actions. Heart stroke impacts the brain and causes confusion and loss of movement. 

On the contrary, cardiac arrest affects the heart and leads to a loss of consciousness. Be prepared and equipped to act quickly in such situations. Take a CPR and first aid course to learn the skills and act on time. Do not wait for the right time, as emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere.