THE HUMAN VASCULAR system carries a massive network of
arteries, veins and capillaries that ferry blood – and the oxygen and nutrients
it includes – to all corners of the body. It's a big system – the U.S. National
Institute on Aging estimates that if you put all of the blood vessels in the
human physique quit to end, they'd stretch some 60,000 miles long. Keeping
these blood highways clear and free to pump blood efficiently is indispensable
to survival and correct health. But when a blockage occurs, two frequent
medical occasions may additionally occur: a stroke or a coronary heart attack.
What Is a
Stroke?
Dr. Tamer I. Sallam, assistant professor of medicine at the
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, says that "a stroke occurs when
there is an abrupt interruption of blood flow to the brain."
There are actually three different types of stroke that can
occur, including:
Ischemic stroke:
"This is the most common type of stroke," Sallam says. "A blood
clot prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the brain."
Hemorrhagic stroke:
"This occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and blood leaks into
the surrounding brain tissue," Sallam says.
Transient ischemic
attacks (TIAs): "Also referred to as a mini-stroke, these occur after
blood flow fails to reach part of the brain," Sallam explains. Though they
don't cause permanent damage to the brain, TIAs should be taken seriously and
considered as a warning that you may be in for another more serious stroke
soon.
Signs and symptoms of a stroke can vary from person to
person, but someone who's having a stroke may experience:
Slurred speech, Headaches, Numbness and tingling, Muscle
weakness, Paralysis and/or difficulty walking, Facial droop, Sudden confusion
and difficulty speaking or comprehending speech or text, Loss of balance, Symptoms
that seem to affect one side of the body only, Sudden difficulty seeing in one
or both eyes.
What Is a
Heart Attack?
Similar to a stroke, heart attacks also feature an
interruption of blood flow, but to the heart instead of the brain. This is most
commonly due to a clogged artery, Sallam says.
Typical signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
Chest discomfort that may feel like pressure, squeezing or
pain; Pain in the upper body,
particularly in one or both arms, the neck, back, jaw or stomach; A feeling of
fullness in the chest; A feeling of severe indigestion; Shortness of breath;
Nausea or cold sweats; Lightheadedness; Flu-like symptoms; Paleness in the face
or looking unwell.
"The pain does not have to be severe or
debilitating," Sallam says, and for some people, pain may be less
noticeable. "Women are less likely to experience chest pain and may
present with other signs like unusual fatigue or upper body discomfort."
Women may also be more likely to experience extreme fatigue, vomiting,
toothaches or pain in the arms and legs.
As with strokes, heart attacks can be treated with
antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin, and other drugs that control some of
the risk factors such as high cholesterol or blood pressure. Statin medications
that lower cholesterol levels are one such intervention, Sallam explains.
"Early phase of treatment includes a cardiac catherization procedure to
open the artery blockage." He adds that the American College of Cardiology
and American Heart Association "recommends opening the artery within 90
minutes of onset of symptoms for optimal outcomes."
Note:- Explore your thesis about Stroke/Heart Attack in "26th International Conference on Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery" on March 16-17, 2020 in Hong Kong.
Contact:
David Ian | Program Manager
Cardio Thoracic Surgery 2020
cardiacsurgery@asia-meetings.com
WhatsApp no: +441799420005
