Symptoms of heart attack and stroke in women. What is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack and which is more dangerous? Stroke symptoms include

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According to statistics, cerebral infarction and stroke are the most common of the most dangerous types of critical conditions. Focusing on their common and hallmarks, you can suspect one of the problems in time and provide the victim with adequate assistance. Despite the fact that the signs of heart attack and stroke are largely similar, the development and course of pathological processes is accompanied by a number of specific moments. First of all, you should understand the definitions of these diseases and their characteristics. This will make it possible to understand why there are such diagnoses as a heart attack of the brain, heart, kidneys, and a stroke can only happen with the first of them.

Similarity of diseases

A heart attack is a pathological condition that develops as a result of circulatory disorders. It leads to oxygen starvation of tissues and the appearance of foci of necrosis. The phenomenon is capable of affecting the main organ of cardio-vascular system, kidneys, liver and other components of the human body. Most often, speaking of a heart attack, they mean damage to the myocardium - the heart muscle.

In the case of localization of the process in the brain, a special emergency condition develops - ischemic stroke. Against the background of such an intersection of terms, confusion often arises with the interpretation of concepts. It is important to understand that a stroke is one of the forms of a heart attack when it comes to the ischemic form of stroke.

Similar moments of cerebral infarction caused by cerebral artery thrombosis and heart damage:

mechanism of development - blockage or stenosis blood vessels provoke a failure of the process of blood access to tissues. As a result oxygen starvation mass cell death begins, necrosis develops. The functionality of a part of the organ is reduced, which affects the operation of the entire system;
initial symptoms - the first signs of a heart attack and stroke may be different, but most often they are shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, pale skin, and suffocation. There is a high probability of loss of consciousness, numbness of the limbs;
reasons - the likelihood of developing both conditions increases if a person has hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity, chronic diseases of internal organs. The presence of bad habits, physical inactivity, violation of the rules of nutrition, physical overload and stress increase the risks;
prevention - exclusion from the regimen and lifestyle of all the above provocative factors favorably affects the condition of the vessels. Against this background, heart attacks and strokes are extremely rare;
features of the rehabilitation period - the death of cell colonies in both pathological processes leads to tissue necrosis in some areas. With the timely start of treatment and rehabilitation, healthy neighboring zones will partially take over the functions of the affected areas. This will increase the functionality of the organ or completely restore it.

To a certain extent, even therapy for heart attack and stroke has similar features.

How is a heart attack different from a stroke?

The main difference between a heart attack and a stroke is that the former term has a broader meaning. It combines at once a whole list of pathologies of internal organs that can proceed according to one scheme. This list also includes stroke of the ischemic type.

Only the pathological process that occurs in the brain is called a stroke.

In this case, the cause of the development of an unfavorable picture can be not only a spasm or blockage of the vessel, but also its rupture with subsequent bleeding. Stroke and myocardial infarction, as they develop, provoke the appearance of characteristic symptoms, which makes it possible to suspect the diagnosis.

You will learn more about the first symptoms of brain damage

Signs of diseases

Stroke and heart attack (if it does not affect the brain) occur in different organs. This causes differences in the manifestations of emergency conditions. Similar signs are observed only at the very start of the disease. As it develops, the symptoms become more specific.

Clinical picture of myocardial infarction:

acute pain in the region of the heart, which may radiate to left hand and a shoulder blade, spill over the whole body;
decreased sensation in the left arm or armpit;
dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness;
cyanosis of the lips, fingers, earlobes;
loss of appetite against the background of severe weakness;
protrusion of cold sweat in combination with tachycardia and arrhythmia;
edema may appear on the extremities, often a painful cough begins for no apparent reason.

A cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke) is accompanied by the following symptoms:

intense headache;
decreased sensitivity on one half of the body;
nausea, vomiting;
problems with coordination, change in gait, dizziness, difficulty with orientation in space and time;
there may be a decrease in visual acuity, even temporary blindness in one or both eyes;
memory impairment, problems with speech, its understanding.

Depending on the cause of a heart attack or stroke, the clinical picture may be bright or blurry. The last scenario is the most unfavorable due to the difficulty in making a diagnosis. Timely medical care in these conditions is the key to a favorable prognosis.

Consequences of diseases

Organic lesions of the brain and other internal organs rarely do without permanent negative consequences. Even with the transition of functions from tissues covered by necrosis to neighboring areas, the functionality of the system decreases. Patients with stroke most often suffer from paresis and paralysis, deterioration of brain activity, some have to re-learn such basic skills as speech, writing, counting.

Patients with a heart attack note a deterioration in the functioning of the heart (or the affected organ), which manifests itself in the form of arrhythmias, palpitations, and a temporary increase in the intensity of contractions. In some cases, the restoration of all functions is impossible, and the victim of an emergency remains disabled for life.

You can find out about the consequences and complications after stroke.

Additional differences

A significant difference between the two conditions is observed in their diagnosis. A conversation is necessarily held with the patient or his relatives, which allows you to identify risk factors and possible triggers of the disease, hereditary predisposition. A person with suspected cerebral infarction is shown to undergo a CT scan or MRI of the head, EEG. They take blood from him for indicators of glucose and cholesterol, check its coagulability. Neurological status assessment is mandatory. Myocardial infarction is confirmed by ECG, ultrasound of the heart, biochemical and general blood tests.

Which is more dangerous, heart attack or stroke?

It is impossible to say unequivocally which of the two states is more terrible and dangerous. Under certain
Under circumstances, both ailments can lead to death or disability of the victim. According to statistics, extensive myocardial infarction often leads to the development of serious negative consequences, their list is longer, it is more difficult to cope with them.

Theoretically, myocardial infarction has one “advantage” over stroke. In case of severe wear of the heart as a result of tissue scarring, it can be transplanted. This cannot be done with the brain, the patient will have to cope with the forces of one organ all his life.

The worst thing is if myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke develop at the same time. The chances of such patients to survive are minimal. If they manage to survive the acute period, they either soon die from a second attack, or remain with a severe disability for life.

Disease Statistics

The risks associated with the pathology, as well as the patient's chances for a full recovery, depend on a number of factors. The age, sex of a person, his physical condition, the degree of damage to the tissues of the heart, brain or other organ are taken into account. Every year the disease becomes "younger". Even the rapid development of neurology and cardiology does not lead to an improvement in statistical indicators. In the case of these emergency conditions, everything is 90% dependent on the person himself.

Statistical data on myocardial infarction:

men over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer;
in women, the mortality rate is 2 times higher than in men;
in the acute form, victims only in 50% of cases survive until they are admitted to the hospital;
if all people who died in a year are taken as 100%, then 13% of them die from a heart attack - this is the highest mortality rate for all pathologies;
half of the patients develop some form of disability;
25% of patients do not observe alarming symptoms at all or they are practically indistinguishable.

Statistical data on ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction):

if all people who died in a year are taken as 100%, then 10% of them die from stroke of this type of people - according to this indicator, the disease is in 3rd place;
the older the patient, the higher the likelihood of his death or disability;
women die from cerebral infarction 10% more often than men;
with a second stroke, the risk of death increases by 2-3 times, and after the third attack, only a few survive;
in 15% of patients before the development of the condition, a microstroke was diagnosed and proper prevention could have prevented the disease.

Modern diagnostic methods allow timely detection of predisposition to the described diseases. Systematic visits to a therapist or specialized specialists, monitoring blood pressure, checking blood counts at least 1-2 times a year reduce potential risks. Only a responsible attitude of each individual to his health will improve the alarming statistics.

You will learn more about statistics and chances of survival

Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke are different in localization and type of consequences of the pathology, but they have many similarities. Thanks to simple prevention, you can prevent the launch of dangerous mechanisms in both cases, increasing your life expectancy and improving its quality.

Due to the fact that every day the ecological state is deteriorating, bad heredity is more often manifested. Also, people lead the wrong way of life, because of this, too, cases of heart attack and stroke become more frequent. But most fellow citizens believe that there is practically no difference between these diseases. But this is a gross mistake.

To find out how a stroke differs from a heart attack, you first need to know what causes these diseases. Both of these are classified as cardiac disorders. Just a few years ago, only the elderly could get sick with them. But in our time, it is increasingly common among the younger generation.

heart attack

How is a heart attack different from a stroke? The answer to this question can be found by considering their characteristics. A heart attack is a disease of an organ of a local or all-encompassing nature. It occurs due to thrombosis in the vessels, as well as the fact that there is no supply of nutrients and useful substances. Immediately after a heart attack (within three to four hours), necrosis may develop, and the organ gradually dies.

When making a diagnosis, the doctor must clarify the location of the lesion. These may include the following organs:

Cardiac muscle - myocardium;

Brain;

Intestines.

Since the main cause of this disease is vascular thrombosis, this is the main difference from a stroke.

Stroke

What is this disease? How does a stroke manifest itself? Bodies work nervous system impaired, which affects blood circulation, more often it occurs in the brain. It may appear in different ways:

In the form of thrombosis, almost the same as with a heart attack;

hemorrhage;

Cramp (this means that there is a sharp contraction of the artery).

A stroke occurs in a more severe form and is characterized by dysfunctions for which the brain is responsible.

There are cases when a cerebral artery infarction is classified as a stroke. What else is the difference in these diseases?

These two diseases are also different from each other in that after a stroke, the affected area of the brain will not recover, and the work of dead cells will fall as an additional burden on neighboring ones that function normally. And although rehabilitation takes a long time and requires a lot of patience, recovery is quite possible.

Causes

How is a stroke different from a heart attack? To answer this question, it is necessary to highlight the causes of occurrence, provoked by such diseases:

Thrombosis in the vessels;

Atherosclerosis;

Hypertension;

Infectious diseases (acute forms) that the patient suffers or has already suffered.

Also bad heredity and environmental factors may lead to the development of the disease. In addition, the cause of this disease can be:

Alcohol, nicotine and drug addiction;

Stress, unhealthy diet;

Excessive physical activity.

The first signs of two diseases

What is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack that they are so often confused? Although these are two different diseases, the symptoms are very similar. The first signs are:

Paleness and numbness of the body, in most cases accompanied by loss of consciousness;

Blood pressure deviates from the norm, most often it is elevated;

Facial features become numb, shortness of breath occurs, breathing problems appear, which, in turn, creates a great threat. At this point, you need to carefully monitor that the tongue does not sink and does not impede the flow of air into the body;

Sharp pain.

difference in symptoms

At the next stage, it is easier to distinguish between these two diseases:

If that comes full or partial paralysis of the body.
In the case of a heart attack, there are such signs: the earlobes turn black, the skin of the face becomes earthy, the lips turn blue. These and other symptoms may precede This is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack.

First aid

First aid is required, in the first, in the second case. To begin with, what should be done is to provide the patient with access to oxygen, and after that take measures to restore the normal functioning of the affected organ. If you do not know how this is done, then it is better not to touch the victim, but to provide complete rest. An ambulance should be called as soon as possible.

In the event that this is a stroke, and for three hours the brain cells are not fed with the necessary substances, then necrosis will begin - cell death.

If this is a heart attack, then there is a high probability that it will happen even before the ambulance arrives. But even with the timely help of doctors, transplantation is necessary to save a life, or implantation of valves and plates of artificial origin will be required.

Stroke and cerebral infarction. Difference

How is a stroke different from a cerebral infarction? Their differences are as follows:

In a stroke, blood flow to the brain is blocked. And this leads to tissue damage. A heart attack disrupts the nutrition of the damaged organ. This leads to tissue death.
A stroke affects only the brain, and a heart attack - when necrosis occurs - any organ.
A heart attack is a heart attack vascular diseases. Stroke is a neurological disease.
There are many reasons for a stroke, but for a heart attack, the main one is thrombosis;
The result of a stroke is disability. After the second disease, a fatal outcome often occurs.

How is a stroke different from a cerebral infarction? The difference can be seen in the symptoms:

During a stroke, dizziness occurs, the gait becomes shaky. With a heart attack, such signs are not observed.
When a stroke occurs, the patient loses consciousness. During a heart attack, he experiences a sharp weakness.
When a stroke begins, there is numbness of the limbs, difficulty in movements. And with a heart attack, due to severe pain, activity is manifested.

Stroke and Differences

How is a stroke different from Here are the first symptoms of a heart attack:

The occurrence of compressive pain, which radiates to the left side of the body above the waist, as well as to the jaw and throat;

You can distinguish tachycardia;

It turns blue, the skin of the face darkens, and with it the earlobes;

There is severe shortness of breath;

Arrhythmia, sharp pain in the abdomen;

Unusual cough.

In rare cases, the only symptom observed is complete cardiac arrest.

Consequences of diseases

If we talk about how a stroke differs from a heart attack and which of these diseases is more dangerous, then there is no definite answer. Although infarction death is more common. But with a stroke, it is also possible. But as after the transfer of one disease, and after another, the consequences are serious.

Consequences after a stroke:

Paralysis and paresis;

Pneumonia;

Intellectual impairment - dementia;

Amnesia;

Pain appears in different parts body, as well as numbness of the limbs.

Consequences of a heart attack:

The heart rhythm is disturbed, arrhythmia occurs;

Decreased functionality of the heart;

Manifestation of cardiogenic shock;

Possible ruptures of the heart muscles.

One unites these two diseases - a threat to health and further human life.

Stroke is a common disease not only among the elderly, it is also often affected by young people. According to medical statistics, attacks occur annually in 0.1-0.4% of the population aged 40 to 60 years. It has been proven that women aged 18-40 suffer from ischemic stroke more often than men. However, acute cerebrovascular brain lesions in older women are observed only after 60 years, while men fall into the risk group after 40 years.

Causes

Sudden cerebrovascular accident in women may be some of the factors that particularly affect female body. Causes:

violations hormonal background with polycystic ovaries, mastopathy;
long-term use of oral contraceptives;
smoking after 30 years;
prolonged and often recurring migraine attacks;
an increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy, which affects the level of blood clotting and the production of blood clots.

Bad habits, namely smoking in adulthood, contribute not only to the occurrence of a cerebral stroke, but also to the development of hypercholistemia and coronary disease hearts. Smoking causes intoxication of the body and prolonged vasospasm.

The risk of developing a stroke increases several times for a number of reasons:

progression of somatic diseases;
unbalanced diet, eating fatty, spicy, high-calorie foods;
chronic fatigue syndrome;
stress;
increased emotional and physical stress;
progression of serious infectious diseases.

Acute cerebral circulatory disorders can occur with the simultaneous development of several of the above causes. Women more than men suffer from a tendency to fixate on problems, frequent mood swings and depression, so they are more prone to developing a brain stroke.

As shows medical practice, attacks of cerebrovascular accident in women are much more severe, in contrast to the male half of humanity. The consequences of blows are more serious, the rehabilitation process is longer. Mortality after stroke is on the rise as women young age ignore the first signs of circulatory disorders. In medicine, they are called transient ischemic attacks.

Symptoms

This disease can be manifested by non-traditional and traditional symptoms. Atypical first signs of circulatory disorders of the brain often appear in the female. Therefore, it is more difficult to diagnose the disease, provide first aid and prescribe the necessary treatment in the early stages of a stroke.

"Unconventional" signs:

Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
Marked weakness.
Severe pain in the chest.
Disorientation in space and time.
Visual impairment, total blindness.
Increased heart rate.
Congestion and pain in the ears.
Fainting.
Numbness.
Confusion of consciousness.
Memory loss.
Unilateral soreness of the face.

Typical early signs of a stroke:

impaired coordination of movements;
the appearance of speech defects;
sudden severe headache, accompanied by loss of hearing and vision;
increased forgetfulness and memory impairment;
weakness of facial muscles, numbness of the extremities.

How do ischemic strokes occur in women?

Stroke symptoms in women can develop against the background of pathological pregnancy, hormonal failure, smoking, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, heart defects, thyrotoxicosis, etc. Ischemia of the brain of the female half of humanity proceeds with its own characteristics. Signs of ischemic stroke:

increase in body temperature;
vomit;
swallowing disorder, hiccups and nausea;
causeless severe headache;
difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
incomprehensible and incorrect speech;
complete numbness of the limbs or only on one side;
systemic dizziness, falling, impaired coordination;
excitement and emotional instability.

Features of hemorrhagic strokes

Signs of a hemorrhagic attack:

photophobia;
rare pulse;
severe unbearable pain in the head;
fainting;
paralysis;
speech disorders and disorders of the vestibular apparatus.

The causes of hemorrhagic stroke in women are associated with the presence of congenital altered brain vessels (aneurysms) and with the formation of arteriovenous malformations (vessels without a clear structure).

How to help the patient?

Not everyone knows what to do if loved one there was a stroke, what treatment will help the patient before the ambulance arrives. The patient is provided with the following first aid:

Lay him on a sofa or bed, put a pillow under his head.
Open the window, provide inflow fresh air in room.
Unfasten the collar, remove tight clothing - provide the patient with the opportunity to breathe freely.
When vomiting occurs, gently turn the patient on his side so that the vomit does not enter the respiratory tract.
Measure blood pressure and record all data.
At high rates, the patient is given special medicines and a warm heating pad (a bottle of water) is placed on his feet.

Important! Medications give the patient only if there is confidence in the indications for their use. Otherwise, the patient can only get worse. Appropriate treatment will be prescribed by a doctor upon arrival.

Don't fuss and don't panic. The patient should not see anxiety and fear.
As soon as ambulance arrives, the doctor quickly and as briefly as possible describe what happened, list the obvious signs and symptoms, and tell what has already been done.

Important! The first minutes after a stroke determine the further course of the disease. Recognition of the first symptoms and competent first aid can save the life of the patient. If everything is done as described in the instructions, then the consequences of a stroke may not be so serious.

How to recognize a stroke?

Unmistakable ways to recognize a stroke:

Ask the patient to raise their hands. The affected part of the body will not allow you to raise your hand to the same height with a healthy limb.
Make the patient laugh. A crooked smile is a sign of a stroke.
Talk to the patient. The consequences of an attack are slurred and incorrect speech.
Ask to show the tongue. After a blow, the tongue will be asymmetrical or crooked.

Symptoms of high blood pressure in women: signs of high blood pressure

Hypertension is a common but dangerous pathology, which is characterized by an increase in blood pressure.

Most often, the disease appears in women after 40 years.

The pressure begins to rise rather slowly. A person begins to feel the following symptoms:

weakness,
dizziness,
fatigue,
finger numbness,
headache.

The listed symptoms of the disease can be observed by a person for several years. After that, interruptions in the work of the heart and kidneys appear, as well as obvious signs of circulatory disorders in the brain. If you leave high blood pressure after 50 and do not return to normal pressure, then the consequence may be a heart attack.

Physicians are currently registering all large quantity cases of increased, high blood pressure in people after 30 years.

Many people believe that this is the norm, they treat high blood pressure extremely lightly, which leads to heart and vascular diseases as early as 40-50 years old.

The causes of this pathological condition are constant psycho-emotional stress and stress. In addition, hypertension appears in women who have a genetic predisposition to this. Also, the negative environment plays a role in the development of the disease and high blood pressure.

Signs of high blood pressure are also increased if the diet is high in saturated fatty acids. They are found in coconut, palm and animal fats.

There are hidden fats that should also not be consumed by those who have destructive signs. Hidden fats are in:

cheeses,
sausages,
cookie,
chocolate,
cakes.

The symptoms of high blood pressure are caused by excessive salt intake. Thus, the quality of the vessels deteriorates, and structural changes appear in the arteries. Normal pressure is also becoming rare due to excessive alcohol consumption, which provokes a strong heartbeat.

An important factor in the development of high blood pressure is sedentary image life and constant stress. In an intense work environment, a person performs large amounts of work, which causes tension. An increase in pressure can be a physiological response to any stressful situation.

To the most important factors high blood pressure symptoms include:

smoking and alcohol,
excess weight,
heredity,
negative external environment chemical substances, noise and vibration.

Hypertension often appears on the background of kidney disease or traumatic brain injury.

In addition, symptoms of high blood pressure may occur after menopause, as well as against the background of taking some medicines, which will tell unpleasant symptoms. Often in women from 20 to 30 years old, normal pressure disappears due to the constant use of oral contraceptives.

The fact is that birth control pills include estrogens, which in some cases provoke an increase in pressure.

In many cases, people after 30 years of age do not feel high blood pressure until some time. This is the main danger of this pathology.

Delayed treatment seriously undermines the health of a sick person and even threatens his life, as a stroke or heart attack develops. The most common symptoms of high blood pressure are:

sense of anxiety,
nausea,
failure of the functioning of the heart muscle,
chest pain,
headache,
dizziness.

If an increase in blood pressure has been observed for a long time, the following symptoms appear:

swelling,
poor circulation,

High blood pressure is also often the cause of palpable pain in the heart, as well as fever and excessive sweating. In this case, the hands become colder.

Norm of arterial pressure

In medicine, blood pressure is differentiated into:

systolic - pressure at the moment of contraction of the heart,
diastolitic - pressure during relaxation of the myocardium.

Pressure indicators depend on the characteristics of a person and his age. There are two types of blood pressure:

pulse,
bottom,
top.

Pressure can decrease or increase due to changes in atmospheric pressure, stress, excitement and physical exertion. Over the years, the indicators of the tonometer always change.

Blood pressure is usually measured in millimeters of mercury.

There are only two numbers that show blood pressure. The upper (systolic) pressure indicates the strength of the contractions of the heart, the indicator of the lower (diastolic) is the tone of the vessels during the relaxation of the heart muscle.

The norm of systolic (upper) pressure is in the range of 112-132. As for diastolic (lower) pressure, in women from 30 to 50 years old, it is 67-82. For women over the age of 55, the norm is 79 - 88 mm Hg. Thus, the norm for a woman aged 30 is from 125/80 to 130/82 mm Hg. Art.

In women aged 40 years, blood pressure indicators are normally 127/80. When a woman crossed the line of 50 - 55 years, then her performance is 137/84. After 60 years, the normal level of pressure is 144/85.

A woman at 70 years old has a normal pressure of 159/85, and after 80 years the parameter is 157/83. At the age of 90, the best indicator is 150/79 mm Hg of the column.

If a woman after 40 years of age has normal blood pressure values \u200b\u200bthat can increase to 145/90, then in people after 55 years the indicator is 150 per 90 mm r. With. With age, an increase in pressure is also observed in hypotensive patients.

At the same time, any slight fluctuations in blood pressure are not a reason to determine the presence of pathology. For each person, the indicators are individual.

In 20% of cases, the causes of high lower pressure in women after 30 years of age are recognized as a lack of physical activity, stress, junk food and alcohol. In this case, the upper pressure can remain normal. There may be a deposition on the walls of blood vessels of cholesterol and fibrin.

Diastolic pressure can increase up to 30 years, and after 55 years in women. Sometimes the causes of the pathology are not identified, but, as a rule, the condition occurs due to diseases of the thyroid gland, kidneys, and weakening of cardiac output.

A woman during pregnancy is sensitive to various changes in the body, this is especially true for women after 30 years. Blood pressure problems during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby. Gestational blood pressure is especially dangerous; in the third trimester of pregnancy, women over 40 experience sudden pressure drops.

Until 22 weeks of pregnancy, blood pressure is within normal limits. But due to the active production of progesterone, the indicator can change by 10 mm Hg, both downward and upward. The norm for a pregnant woman is from 120/70 to 140/90 mm Hg. Art. An increase in blood pressure in women after 40 often leads to fetal heart attacks.

A slight increase in pressure may increase in pregnant women after the 20th week of pregnancy, which continues for some time, but the symptoms are not pronounced. This condition is called gestational high blood pressure.

Special attention should be paid to gestational blood pressure if a woman has:

there was an increase in blood pressure previous dates gestation,
obesity before pregnancy
age after 40 years.

If a woman over 30 has diabetes or chronic kidney disease, in most cases there will be high blood pressure.

Doctors advise women suffering from hypertension to undergo therapy before pregnancy. This is especially true for women over 40. In some cases, doctors may only recommend preterm birth.

Under these conditions, a woman can give birth to a child, only under the condition of a caesarean section.

Treatment

If a woman after 50 years of age suffers from high blood pressure, in no case should you prescribe medication on your own. You should consult a doctor and start making time for physical exercises.

Physical activity must be carefully selected in order to be performed with pleasure. Normal pressure will be observed if you take daily walks and visit nature. You can not lead a sedentary lifestyle and overeat.

In order to prevent the development of pathology, after 55 years, weight gain should be more carefully monitored. In women with extra pounds the risk of developing hypertension is always increased.

In addition, revise your diet by reducing the amount of salt. At high blood pressure, especially in women after 40 years, it is necessary to exclude:

coffee,
smoked meats,
sugar,
fatty food,
fast food.

With medical treatment, it is also useful to eat tomatoes, strawberries and make salads with raw carrots during the ripening season.

It is well known that people suffering from hypertension are more prone to atherosclerosis. Therefore, both stroke and heart attack are more common in people with high blood pressure. In addition, lameness can develop with hypertension, because after the age of 55, normal blood circulation in the legs worsens.

The most common complication is pressure on the heart. The body is forced to constantly work with increased loads. With this pathology, the heart cannot cope with its functions, so the blood circulation changes in a large and small circle. The following symptoms appear:

dyspnea,
hemoptysis,
limb edema.

Such consequences often lead to death.

Another dangerous complication is cerebral complications. If discomfort torments long time, then cholesterol deposits and pinpoint hemorrhages form in the vessels of the eye. This leads to circulatory disorders, which means retinopathy and degeneration appear. In many cases, the result of pathological conditions is blindness.

With a slight hypertension, you can live a full life, but it is important to constantly pay attention to changes in your usual state. When the upper pressure falls sharply, the lower pressure tends to become very low.

Thus, there is a centralization of blood circulation and polyhedral insufficiency. In order to lead a habitual and active lifestyle, a woman should know her normal blood pressure and monitor how signs of pathology appear. The video in this article will help you understand the symptoms and signs of high blood pressure,

The state of myocardial infarction is deservedly considered a formidable pathology, annually claiming many human lives (both women and men). It is not for nothing that people who upset their loved ones with words or bad deeds can be said: “will lead to a heart attack.”

Such a simple and understandable saying, in essence, ideally reflects the main features of the pathology - the development of a heart attack is often provoked by strong emotional experiences, stressful situations.

Overvoltages of the physical type are also in the group of "provocateurs" of the development of this pathology. But, nevertheless, most often an attack can occur in the morning, immediately after waking up in the morning or with a sharp increase in the load on the heart, in people over the age of 50 or older.

To understand how to recognize an attack in a timely manner, not to miss the symptoms of a heart attack in women and remember what exactly needs to be done in order to provide needed help for the patient, it is important to first understand how the blood supply to the myocardium occurs in general and what the pathology in question is.

How is the blood supply to the heart?
Who is more likely to experience this disease?
Which women are at risk?
What can indicate an imminent disease?
First aid
Which clinics should be contacted?
Forecasts

How is the blood supply to the heart?

When it comes to the blood supply to the muscle tissues of the heart, doctors talk about coronary circulation. The term coronary circulation implies the constant circulation of blood by the bloodstream of the myocardium.

The vascular bed, which delivers oxygen-filled blood to the muscular membrane of the heart - arterial, is commonly called the coronary arteries.

The channel designed to divert deoxygenated (venous) blood from the heart is commonly called the coronary venous bed.

Coronary-type arteries, which are located on the surface of the heart, can be called epicardial, they are considered a self-regulating structure that can provide the body with maintaining a normal level of coronary blood flow.

Unfortunately, these relatively narrow arteries, most often, can be affected by pathology, after the onset of atherosclerosis, they are the most susceptible to the development of stenosis with coronary insufficiency.

deep-seated coronary arteries(subendocardial) are affected less often, but their blockage (stenosis) is no less severe.

It must be understood that both those and other coronary arteries are considered almost the only way to supply the myocardium with oxygen - other blood supply to the heart muscle is extremely insignificant, which is why the patient's condition, after the development of stenosis of these arteries, is so critical.

Who is more likely to experience this disease?

For quite a long period of time, in medical circles, it was believed that the occurrence of myocardial infarction is more inherent in the male sex, this was confirmed by statistics, and coronary heart disease was even called male. But recently, medical statistics began to change somewhat.

Today, a heart attack in women and men is significantly younger - pathology overtakes not only people over 50 years old, but also quite young patients reaching 40-45 years old.

In addition, many doctors notice that the pathology has changed its "sexual orientation".

In today's world, an increasing number of women reaching menopause (age 50) notice the first manifestations of a pre-infarction or even a full-fledged ischemic heart disease.

At the same time, the real symptoms of a heart attack in women may still differ somewhat from the classical clinical picture of this pathology that occurs in most men.

As a result of such differences, doctors notice that it is much more difficult to recognize the first clear signs of a heart attack in women in the early stages and, accordingly, to provide the necessary assistance to patients.

What are the causes of the described pathology in women, which of the fair sex is most susceptible to the problem? Let's find out!

Which women are at risk?

Many women sometimes cannot objectively assess their life (its pace, style, nutrition principles, etc.), as well as notice the harbingers possible problem with the heart, which, in fact, are the reasons for the late diagnosis of female heart attacks.

Women often wind up at work, take care of the family, forgetting about their health. As a result, many women do not remember the last time they underwent preventive examinations by a cardiologist, did an ECG.

But statistics show that most women who have had a heart attack, a few weeks before the onset of an attack, could pay attention to the distant signs of a heart attack in women, indicating the development of pathological processes in the body.

It should be noted that with the timely detection of pathological processes in the body, with timely application for adequate medical care, the development of an attack could have been avoided, especially since when conducting an ECG, it is often possible to detect the occurrence of ventricular repolarization processes, as harbingers of a problem.

Recall that the occurrence of early ventricular repolarization processes on the ECG can be considered a variant of the norm for athletes, but can also be a harbinger of heart problems in people who have not been involved in sports.

The syndrome of premature repolarization is characterized by changes in the graphic recordings of the heart. The syndrome of early repolarization is characterized by an increase in the places where the ventricular complexes pass into the ST segment. In this case, the phenomenon of premature repolarization processes can be registered as an early occurrence of a wave of excitation, directly on the subepicardial areas of the myocardium.

In addition, it is believed that early repolarization syndrome may be caused by abnormalities in the nature of the proteins that make up the ion channels. The prevalence of early repolarization syndrome today is from one to eight percent of all people.

However, let's return to women at risk of developing myocardial infarction, most often, these are the following categories of the fairer sex:

That is why doctors insist that for all women over forty, without exception, for the timely detection of pathological processes in the body, it is important to undergo preventive examinations: with a therapist, cardiologist, gynecologist and other narrow specialists.

What can indicate an imminent disease?

How does myocardial infarction begin and manifest itself in women?

It turns out that most women do not notice the harbingers of this formidable emergency condition - they do not pay attention to the decrease in blood pressure, frequent cephalalgia or dizziness, retrosternal pressure pains or a feeling of lack of air.

In addition, the nature of the onset of pathological processes in women may be somewhat different than in men. Therefore, it is important for women to learn to notice certain distant and approximate signs of cardiac ischemia, which we present in the table below.

What should women do if they suspect a heart attack?

If we are talking about the appearance of distant precursors of pathology, it is important to urgently consult a doctor and think about adequate preventive measures.

It is quite possible that in order to prevent an attack, it will be enough to normalize sleep with the help of the “Healthy” medical pillow, drink certain medicinal herbal preparations, and engage in general strengthening of the body.

But, if a woman over 50 years old has close signs of illness, she urgently needs emergency care, and possibly even intensive care.

First aid

Practitioners are convinced that the first thing you can do to help patients who may have had a heart attack is to call an ambulance! Questions: whether it is necessary to contact the doctors or when the help of doctors is necessary (and when you can wait), in this case, should not be asked!

After calling the brigade, the patient should be laid with her head slightly raised. Next, it is important to unfasten or even remove all tight clothing. Be sure to provide fresh air.

If the patient suffered from coronary heart disease, she can be given a nitroglycerin tablet (but not more than five in an hour). Aspirin may also be helpful. Actually, at this stage, the independence of the patient's environment should end.

All other actions and resuscitation should only be carried out by specialists, or by people who clearly understand what constitutes chest compressions or artificial respiration.

Which clinics should be contacted?

It must be understood that the speed of a patient seeking qualified medical care in the development of a heart attack is crucial, both in terms of survival and in terms of complications of the primary problem.

That is why patients with myocardial infarction need specialized clinics (with the necessary diagnostic and resuscitation equipment), which are the closest geographically.

Next, we would like to provide a list of medical institutions that can be contacted at the slightest suspicion of health disorders associated with the work of the heart, which have qualified cardiologists in their staff and deal with the problems described.

Forecasts

Unfortunately, in most cases, doctors do not undertake to predict how a patient who has had a heart attack will feel. Nevertheless, there are cold data statistics that are not very comforting.

To date, approximately 30% of patients with this pathology are fatal before hospitalization.

The hospital-type mortality (after the patient is brought to the hospital) during the first month from the moment the first symptoms of the problem are detected is about twenty-five percent.

Four to ten percent of patients die a year after the primary problem, from the effects of ischemia. The most favorable prognosis remains for relatively young patients who promptly turned to doctors, who underwent early thrombolysis and restored blood flow in the coronary arteries.

Myocardial infarction and stroke are two dangerous pathologies with high risk lethal outcome. According to statistics, it is these vascular disorders that are the main cause of death for people over 40 years of age. Despite the distribution mainly among patients of this age category, stroke and heart attack can also occur in young people. In some cases, even the simultaneous development of two emergency conditions is likely.

Features of myocardial infarction and stroke

- this is the development of necrosis of a section of the heart muscle as a result of a rupture of the artery that feeds it or its blockage by a thrombus. Atherosclerosis (a decrease in the lumen of blood vessels due to the deposition of cholesterol plaques on their walls) is one of the main prerequisites for a heart attack.

The development of acute pathology is most often preceded by a period of ischemia, characterized by partial occlusion of the lumen of the artery and insufficient provision of tissues with oxygen and nutrients.

A less common cause of a heart attack is a sudden spasm of blood vessels supplying a portion of the myocardium.

With myocardial infarction in the area of the site that does not receive nutrition, three zones are formed - ischemia, damage and complete tissue necrosis. In the subacute stage, the second zone disappears, increasing the zones of reversible changes (ischemia) and infarction (necrosis). After rehabilitation, a scar forms in place of dead heart muscle cells.

A stroke is also a consequence of circulatory disorders, but in the brain tissues. This vascular pathology develops rapidly, characterized by damage to brain tissue and impaired functions. There are three types of stroke:

hemorrhage in the brain;
ischemic stroke (otherwise called);
hemorrhage in the subarachnoid region (the space between the arachnoid and pia maters) - usually the result of an injury or rupture of an aneurysm.

Stroke is accompanied by the appearance of characteristic neurological signs and can lead to death due to cerebrovascular pathology.

Cerebral infarctions account for more than 80% of all stroke cases. In second place in terms of prevalence is hemorrhagic (due to cerebral hemorrhage).

In some clinical cases, the development of heart attack and stroke at the same time is observed. The combination of these pathologies dramatically increases the risk of death and coma.

Differences and risk factors for the development of vascular pathologies

Ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction belong to the same group of vascular disorders. However, at the same time, they have a number of differences due to the type and localization of the pathology.

Ischemic myocardial disease in most cases is a consequence of a decrease in the lumen of the arteries by accumulations of cholesterol plaques.

Oxygen deficiency in areas of the brain can be caused not only by blockage of blood vessels or their rupture, but also by a decrease in blood flow due to disorders of the heart.

Risk factors for the development of heart attack and stroke are:

elderly age;
hematopoietic diseases associated with increased blood clotting;
increased concentration of low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol in the bloodstream;
the presence of bad habits (addiction to alcohol, drug addiction, smoking);
(transient disturbance of blood flow in the brain);
overweight, diabetes;
cases of myocardial or brain infarction, as well as transient attacks of the ischemic type in history.

Also, the risk of developing necrosis of areas of the heart increases the poor ecology of the place of residence, infections caused by staphylococci and streptococci, and rheumatic heart disease. In men, the transition from coronary disease to necrosis of certain sections of the heart muscle is recorded somewhat more often than in women.

In addition to the above risk factors that are common to two vascular pathologies, a stroke can have such prerequisites as:

sleep apnea (cessation of ventilation of the lungs during sleep for more than ten seconds);
asymptomatic stenosis of the carotid artery;
circulatory disorders and peripheral vascular disease;
certain genetic diseases (Fabry disease);
myocardial disease (for example, and reduced pumping capacity of the heart).

Heart attack, stroke is a major risk factor

Symptoms of heart attack and stroke

In a typical myocardial infarction characterized by severe pain behind the sternum, the two described pathologies are strikingly different. However, in approximately 20% of clinical cases of atypical cardiac muscle necrosis, the primary differential diagnosis may be complicated by the similarity of symptoms.

Comparative table of symptoms of myocardial infarction and stroke:

Symptom		Stroke
Chest pain	Observed in 80% of cases	-
Nausea	+	+
Vomit	+	Observed in hemorrhagic and subarachnoid strokes
Numbness on the left side of the body	May be seen, especially in occult infarcts	There may be numbness of both the left and right parts of the body and face, visually noticeable distortion of the facial muscles
Anxiety	+	-
sweating	Seen especially on the forehead and palms	In some cases, fixed
Dizziness	May occur with a sharp drop in blood pressure	+
Headache	May be observed, but weaker than with strokes	Absent in ischemic stroke. With hemorrhages, it manifests itself very intensively
fainting	+	+
Speech disorders, paresis (decrease in the strength of movements due to neurological disorders)	Not observed	Observed in most cases, but uncharacteristic of subarachnoid stroke
Dyspnea	Doesn't always appear	-
Tachycardia	Doesn't always appear	-
Coordination	Saved	Violated
visual function	Saved	Often aggravated, unable to focus

With a combination of two pathologies, the symptoms are confused, the above signs are arbitrarily combined in it.

Due to the specificity of the manifestation, the occurrence of a stroke on the background of myocardial infarction is easier to diagnose than the reverse clinical situation. If ischemic circulatory disorders in the heart occurred after a stroke or simultaneously with it, but against the background of the disease, most often it is not possible to start treatment on time and prevent the development of complications.

Diagnosis and first aid for a combination of pathologies

A set of signs that are a way to check for a stroke - USP ("smile, speak, raise your hands"), allow you to conduct a primary diagnosis of cerebrovascular accidents even to the layman. However, it should be borne in mind that the inability to fully raise both hands can also be observed with a heart attack, because. with myocardial necrosis, numbness of the limb close to the affected organ often occurs.

Differential diagnosis is necessarily carried out if the patient has already experienced cases of ischemic disorders. A stroke is suggested based on the results of an external examination, and a heart attack is suggested based on the analysis of primary symptoms, the results of an electrocardiogram, and troponin blood samples.

The principles of stroke and the joint manifestation of these pathologies are similar. If you suspect any of the described vascular disorders, you must urgently call an ambulance.

Before the arrival of doctors, the patient should be kept calm, it is better to be in a lying position. The head, neck and back should form a straight line at a 30 degree angle to the horizontal.

To facilitate breathing, provide fresh air, loosen tight clothing and remove the tie. If nausea or vomiting is observed, the patient's head should be turned to one side to prevent the airways from filling with vomit. With a stroke, paralysis of the swallowing muscles often develops, therefore, in order to prevent suffocation, it is forbidden to give food and water to the victim.

When the medical team arrives, the patient's relatives should describe in detail what happened between the first onset of symptoms and the arrival of the ambulance. The need is due to the rapid development of hemorrhagic strokes.

Treatment of stroke and myocardial infarction takes place exclusively in a hospital setting. The duration of the rehabilitation period depends on the area of necrosis of the heart tissue and neurological disorders resulting from ischemia or hemorrhage in the brain tissue.

The patient's chances of survival depend on:

sequence of manifestation of pathologies;
the severity of the course (with strokes and heart attacks, fainting with respiratory arrest can occur);
correctness and timeliness of first aid (including cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Video: First aid

I want to say right away that both the state of myocardial infarction and the state of ischemic stroke of the brain are considered by modern doctors to be a real disaster today. And all because every year these two emergency conditions claim the lives of thousands of people around the world, leaving the survivors disabled or struggling for a long time to recover from the disease.

How to notice the first signs of dangerous diseases

Of course, neither the state of a heart attack, nor the state of a stroke is an absolute and unconditional death sentence if the victims are provided with timely qualified assistance.

However, the real problem lies in the fact that no more than a quarter of all victims of these emergency conditions were able to recognize the signs of an approaching pathology in a timely manner.

Indeed, the lack of awareness of our citizens about how to recognize and how to notice the first signs of these life-threatening diseases for patients is simply frightening.

But, after all, today these two pathologies are rapidly getting younger, undermining both quite young and mature men or women (moreover, young men, according to statistics, are somewhat more often). Qualified medical care, neurologists or cardiologists, in cases with similar pathologies, can be most effective only in the first four or six hours (maximum day) after the first signs of the disease are detected.

Practicing ambulance doctors assure that it is the assistance provided in this short period of time that allows the patient to avoid the development of the most dangerous complications and even prevent a tragedy.

And, therefore, it is incredibly important for all of us to learn to recognize the first signs and symptoms of these diseases in a timely manner, to understand what happens at the time of pathology with our organs (brain or heart) and, of course, to learn how to provide adequate first aid in case of pathology.

It is also impossible not to recall the similarity of the mechanisms of development of stroke and heart attack, because, as we have already written more than once, ischemic brain stroke is often called a cerebral infarction. The essence of the similarity of these diseases lies in the fact that both in the state of ischemic stroke and in the state of myocardial infarction, acute circulatory failure of brain or heart tissues occurs in the body, respectively. However, first things first.

What happens to the human body with myocardial infarction?

As we have already said, with the development of myocardial infarction, there is an acute shortage of oxygen-enriched blood in the tissues of a particular heart membrane (myocardium). Due to such oxygen starvation, necrosis (necrosis) of a certain (not enriched with oxygenated blood) section of our heart muscle occurs.

Blockage by a thrombus of a branch of the coronary vessels of the heart

This condition has the ability to develop when the influx of arterial blood (or venous outflow) stops flowing (flowing from) to the tissues of the heart or, possibly, it does, but in an extremely insufficient amount for the body, thereby not providing a certain area of the myocardium so necessary for it. oxygen supply. This condition occurs more often in men, although women also suffer from this disease.

A heart attack condition can occur when, for one reason or another, a blood clot formed simply clogs a certain branch of the coronary vessels, blocking the full blood flow.

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In cases where, due to such blockage of blood vessels, a certain area of the heart muscles ceases to receive oxygen for more than twenty or thirty minutes, the body begins to develop the deepest structural changes in the heart tissues, which are accompanied by subsequent necrosis (death) of the affected cells.

Depending on the location of the area affected by ischemia (lack of blood supply), the state of the infarction can be considered small-focal or large-focal. And if necrosis (necrosis) of the entire thickness of the myocardial wall is observed in a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe affected heart muscle, doctors diagnose a transmural type infarction.

What usually happens to the patient's body during a brain stroke?

As with a heart attack, with the development of a stroke, there is a certain failure in blood circulation and nutrition of tissues, but, in this case, brain tissues. As a consequence of ischemia, in the human body, when a stroke occurs, necrosis and complete death (necrosis) of one or another area of brain tissue occurs.

At the same time, cells located at the epicenter of a cerebral catastrophe may often no longer be subject to subsequent restoration. Like a heart attack, a brain stroke more often affects men, although women always endure the problem much harder.

brainstroke

The tissues adjacent to the affected area of the brain are considered to be a zone of reversible changes, in fact, for the restoration of these tissues, the main struggle unfolds during the treatment of the victim.

Naturally, here (as in a heart attack), the score goes literally for minutes. The maximum time for which doctors have a chance to reanimate cells affected by ischemia from the zone of reversible changes is no more than four or five hours from the moment when the first symptoms of the problem were detected.

Naturally, both in the case of a state of infarction and in a state of stroke, when providing care to patients, it is incredibly important to have time to meet the “therapeutic window” in order to minimize the focus of tissue damage.

The victims of a brain stroke, as well as patients who develop symptoms of acute ischemic heart disease, should be urgently hospitalized in a hospital equipped with specialized equipment with the ability to conduct the necessary research and resuscitation.

Similarities and differences in the clinical picture of two dangerous emergency conditions

We have already written more than once that the clinical manifestations of a brain stroke are incredibly diverse. The symptoms inherent in a heart attack also do not differ in some paucity and dryness of clinical manifestations. Usually, the symptoms of the classical course of diseases (both stroke pathology and heart attack) are recognized more clearly (and, therefore, more quickly), since they have certain differences.

The classic symptoms that indicate that a heart attack develops in men or women are characterized by a typical onset:	The classic symptoms of a brain stroke can also be quite typical and manifest themselves in:
Sudden onset of intense pain in the region of the heart.	Sudden onset of severe headache
Irradiating pain in the shoulder, shoulder blade, left arm or back.	In the appearance of dizziness, unsteadiness of gait
The appearance of sweating, severe weakness, a violation of the heart rhythm and a decrease in blood pressure.	In the development of disorders of consciousness, the appearance of sweating, disturbances in heart rhythm and pressure
From a strong pain syndrome, the victim is able to rush about and get nervous.	In numbness of the limbs or one side of the body in general.

However, in some cases, it also happens that the classic manifestations and signs of these two conditions are less pronounced or completely invisible (this is especially common in men). For example, heart pain in myocardial infarction may be initially minor, and headache is significant. Can only be felt general weakness, with some chest discomfort.

Incredibly difficult to recognize, usually include atypical variants of infarction pathology, when patients notice only pain in the left shoulder or elbow, headache and dizziness. Sometimes, an atypical myocardial infarction follows an asthmatic or abdominal type. In such cases, the victim may complain of lack of air, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, as in a stroke.

Remember, the sooner medical care is provided, the better the prognosis for recovery.

In elderly patients suffering from severe atherosclerosis, the cerebral type of the onset of myocardial infarction pathology may occur, which is manifested by severe dizziness, sharp darkening of the eyes, nausea, and even loss of consciousness.

Apoplexy can also behave atypically, proceeding asymptomatically or with a clinical picture that vaguely resembles a heart attack. Naturally, this kind of atypical pathological conditions are the most difficult to recognize and, therefore, they are the most dangerous for patients.

History of rehabilitation after a stroke

My name is Natalya Efratova. In the summer of 2017, my husband had a left-sided stroke. Paralyzed almost completely. He spent a month in the city hospital. Then, with great difficulty, we transferred him to a rehabilitation center, where he just lay for a month, and there was no talk of any full-fledged rehabilitation. A month later, we were discharged in the same condition in which we were admitted. Sergei did not even learn how to sit properly.

After such treatment, we decided to throw all our strength into recovery and decided to turn to a private center. I reviewed a lot of information on the Internet and the Evexia center caught my eye. From the very first contact, I felt a desire to help us cope with our problem.

We originally came here for two weeks but stayed for a month and a half. My husband started walking. So far not very confident and we have not yet achieved the desired result in the hand, but we were told that it takes time. But Sergey is already walking and this is already a big victory for us.