Sentry Page Protection
Scientific/Medical Question 10
What are the differences between a stroke and a myocardial infarction?
A stroke is when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. A stroke may be ischaemic (when the blood supply is blocked by a clot) or haemorrhagic (when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds). A ‘mini stroke’ or transient ischaemic attack, is when a clot temporarily blocks a vessel.
An MI (or myocardial infarction) is normally the result of coronary artery disease, and is when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked due to clots forming around fatty buildups (called plaque). This causes a lack of oxygen and nutrients to be supplied to the heart - and in turn tissue death in the heart.
The symptoms of a heart attack frequently include chest pain, pain radiating down the left arm, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea and dizziness. Symptoms of stroke (and a helpful reminder of what to do) are often remembered using the acronym FAST - which stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time (to call 999.)
The treatment for a heart attack may be medication and lifestyle changes, or it may involve surgery - like a coronary artery bypass graft, or angioplasty.
Ischaemic stroke may be treated with medication to break up blood clots, and haemorrhagic strokes are treated with surgery to repair the damaged vessel.