Ask the Expert: Heart disease and stroke
MUNCIE, Ind. -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 3 deaths, more than 359,000 people, are due to heart disease or stroke.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans, and stroke is the fifth leading cause. These staggering statistics show the importance of taking care of yourself to prevent and/or reduce the risks.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is when blood flow is cut off to the brain and deprived of oxygen. If not caught early or treated right away, permanent brain damage or death may occur. There are two types of strokes, ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is similar to a heart attack but occurs in the brain. Blood clots form and block the flow of blood. A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures which results in blood seeping into the brain tissue and causing damage.
What are symptoms of a stroke?
The most common symptoms of stroke include SUDDEN weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side, loss of sight or dimming on one or both eyes, loss of speech, difficulty talking or understanding others, severe headache without cause, loss of balance or unstable walking. A stroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. Call 911 if you or someone is showing signs of a stroke.
What is heart disease?
Heart Disease describes numerous conditions that affect the structure or function of the heart. These include, coronary artery disease (disease of the blood vessels in the heart), heart attack (blood clot in heart vessel), heart failure (inability or decreased pump function), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), heart valve disease, congenital heart disease (heart problems you were born with), cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) and pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart). Coronary Artery Disease is the most common form of heart disease, according to the CDC.
What are symptoms of heart disease?
While symptoms vary for each type of heart disease, common symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat, weakness or dizziness, nausea, sweating, and chest discomfort and pain. Routine wellness checks with your healthcare provider are important to find indications of heart disease early. If your provider thinks you may have heart disease, a series of tests are usually performed which may include an electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac catheterization, x-rays, scans such as CT, MRI or nuclear technology, and angiography.
Is there a link between coronary artery disease and stroke?
Both coronary artery disease and ischemic strokes affect the blood vessels. When you have one of these diseases, you are at a much higher risk for developing the other.
What are risk factors for heart disease and stroke?
The top risk factors for heart disease and stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and secondhand smoke, obesity, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. There are other risk factors that you cannot change, such as family history of stroke/heart disease, sex, and age. Some ways to decrease your risk include, not smoking or using tobacco, aiming for at least 30-60 minutes of physical activity daily, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting good quality sleep, managing stress, and getting regular health screenings. Contact your healthcare provider for more information on health screenings.
Ryan Mallory, MD is an Interventional Cardiologist at IU Health Ball Cardiology.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ask the Expert: Heart disease and stroke
