What is the difference between a stroke and coronary heart disease?
Both result from a lack of blood flow to critical body parts: a stroke is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain, while a heart attack is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the heart.
What causes cardiac stroke?
There are two main causes of stroke: a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may have only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), that doesn’t cause lasting symptoms.
What is the main cause of CAD?
Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the wall of the arteries that supply blood to the heart (called coronary arteries). Plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time. This process is called atherosclerosis.
What is the life expectancy of someone with coronary artery disease?
Men who have heart disease by age 50, can expect to live two years less than women who have heart disease, 21.3 years versus 23.3 years. Among people who have had a heart attack at a given age, life expectancy is strikingly similar for men and women.
Can stress cause a stroke?
Blood pressure also tends to increase when you’re stressed and when blood pressure is consistently high, it can narrow or weaken blood vessels. This makes it easier for blood clots to form or for vessels to leak or burst, triggering a stroke.
Is coronary artery disease a death sentence?
You may know that coronary artery disease is the number one killer of both men and women. What you might not know is that heart attacks are not the death sentence they once were. Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed.
What is the number 1 cause of stroke?
High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and is the main cause for increased risk of stroke among people with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about ways to keep diabetes under control.