What are similarities and differences between heart attacks and strokes?

Question

I know that a heart attack is in your heart and a stroke is in your brain, but i didn't know that they were similar at all, but i am also not sure WHY they are different.

As always, credible sources are nice.

Answer 1

  Similarities of heart attack and stroke-

Can be caused by blood clots, fat,air, or other emboli

Can be caused by hardened/clogged blood vessels

both are a result of the cells dying due to the lack of oxygen

once the cells die in either stroke or heart attack it is irreversible

both can be treated with thrombolytics if caught in time

both can cause sudden death

  Differences

A stroke can also be caused from a brain bleed

A stroke can cause neurological deficits-speech swallowing, movement of arms/legs

A heart attack causes other problems- fluid retention in the extremities

A heart attack (MI) can cause arrythmias and shortness of breath

A heart attack is somewhat more treatable as more meds are available for MI's.  

You can replace valves and even replace your heart but cannot replace any component of brain.  

Answer 2

"A heart attack, known in medicine as an (acute) myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart is interrupted".

As I understand it a heart attack is based around the interruption of blood flow to the heart muscle. This can be caused by fatty deposits, platelets on the walls of the arteries and veins that provide the heart which is a big lump of muscle with its blood flow. The problems produced by lack of blood flow to the heart muscle are cell death and this can limit the ability of the heart to pump blood.

"A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain".

A stroke is the response of the brain to blood clots or other material being pumped from the heart into the brain. The brain notices the presence of some solid particles and goes into spasm. In an attempt to clear itself of obstructions. The problems produced by strokes are blockages that stop the flow of blood to areas of the brain.These produce typical stroke type problems where an individual loses the ability to control one side of the body. As the area of the brain that controls specific functions is not being supplied with blood and cells begin to die.  

    

Answer 3

their similarity is that they both arise from hypertension(high blood pressure) due to high sodium intake or too much LDL.They are different in many ways. Like what you've said heart attack is to heart and stroke is to brain.