A heart attack or stroke can happen within seconds. Getting treatment fast for these medical emergencies can mean the difference between life and death or disability.
But do you know the symptoms of these dangerous events? And do you know if you’re at risk for having one?
More than 1.5 million people have a heart attack or stroke every year in the U.S. Heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart gets blocked, most commonly by a blood clot. Stroke happens when blood flow to the brain gets disrupted. The most common type of stroke is caused by a blood clot stuck in a blood vessel that feeds the brain. Stroke can also be caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks open and bleeds into nearby tissue.
“Early treatment is key to improving your chances of survival,” says Dr. Gina Wei, a heart-health expert at NIH. Treatment may include either rapidly dissolving or removing the clot to open up the blocked blood vessel. For some heart attack cases, emergency surgery is used to redirect blood flow around the blockage.
Getting help immediately can save a life and reduce damage to the heart or brain. Less damage to these vital organs can also mean less disability afterward, and a faster recovery, explains Dr. Clinton Wright, a neurologist and stroke researcher at NIH. So it’s important to be on alert for symptoms of a heart attack or stroke for both yourself and the people around you. Every minute matters.
Read more at https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2024/12/halting-heart-attack-stroke