Heart Attack & Stroke: 80% Cases Are Preventable — WHO Report & Complete Prevention Guide

Heart attack and stroke are among the leading causes of death worldwide, yet nearly 80% of these cases are preventable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Understanding the early signs of a heart attack, knowing heart attack symptoms, and identifying the difference between a stroke and a heart attack can save lives. 

Lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and stress play a major role in increasing risk. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the reasons for heart attacks, provide effective tips on how to prevent heart attacks, and take actionable steps to protect your heart and overall health.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, happens when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries and stops blood from flowing to the heart muscle. This blockage stops oxygen from getting to the heart, which can cause permanent damage.

Heart Attack Causes That Are Common

Knowing why heart attacks happen can help you stay safe:

• Lots of cholesterol
• Blood pressure that is too high
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Not working out Stress
• Eating foods that are processed, salty, or oily
• Too much alcohol
• Heart disease in the family

Most of these things have to do with how you live, so you can avoid them.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke, medically termed a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients.

There are two main types:

1. Ischemic Stroke (most common): Caused by a clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain.
2. Hemorrhagic Stroke (less common): Caused by a blood vessel rupturing and bleeding into the brain.

Heart Attack vs. Stroke

People often confuse a stroke with a heart attack.

• A Heart Attack (or myocardial infarction) occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, typically by a clot in a coronary artery. This is a problem in the heart.
• A Stroke is a problem in the brain.

What's the difference between a stroke and a heart attack?

Both strokes and heart attacks happen when blood flow is blocked, but they affect different organs and have different symptoms. A heart attack happens when a blockage in the coronary arteries stops blood from getting to the heart muscle. This causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and possible damage to the heart muscle. On the other hand, a stroke happens when blood flow to the brain stops, either because of a blockage or a blood vessel that has burst. This can cause problems like paralysis, slurred speech, drooping facial features, or sudden dizziness. It's important to know this difference so you can spot the signs right away and get help right away.

Early Signs of a Heart Attack

Many individuals may experience warning signs hours or even days before a heart attack. Here are some early signs that could indicate you are having a heart attack:

• Discomfort or pain in the chest
• Radiating pain to the left arm, jaw, back, or shoulder
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual fatigue or weakness
• Dizziness
• Cold sweats
• Nausea

It is important to note that women may exhibit atypical symptoms such as pain in the upper back, indigestion, extreme fatigue, or difficulty sleeping.

Please do not disregard these signs; recognizing them early can be life-saving.

Major Heart Attack Symptoms (During the Attack)

When someone has a heart attack, the symptoms get worse and more scary:

• Chest pressure
• Trouble breathing
• Sweating that is cold and clammy
• Heart rate that is fast or uneven

If you or someone you know has these heart attack symptoms, call for emergency medical help right away.

Use F.A.S.T. to Find Stroke Symptoms

To identify a heart stroke quickly, remember F.A.S.T. — the global emergency guideline:

• F—Face drooping,
• A—Arms weak 
• S—Having trouble talking. 
• T—It's time to get help right away

Taking action quickly increases the chances of recovery.

Why WHO Says 80% of Attacks Are Preventable

The WHO report says that most heart attacks and strokes are caused by bad habits, not genes. This means that almost everyone can avoid it.

Major preventable factors:

• A diet that isn't good for you
• Not being active
• Cigarettes
• Diabetes that isn't under control
• Blood pressure that is too high
• Long-term stress
• Being overweight
• Not getting regular health checks

Changing these habits can greatly lower your risk.

How to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke (Complete Guide)

1. Eat foods that are good for your heart.

• A clean diet lowers cholesterol, inflammation, and blockages in the arteries.
• Include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Choose meals made at home over processed foods.
• Avoid packaged snacks, fried foods, sugar, non-veg, and salt.

2. Keep moving around

Your heart stays strong when you stay active.

• Try to work out for 150 minutes a week.
• Walking, doing yoga, riding a bike, and swimming are all great options.

3. Keep your blood pressure under control

High blood pressure hurts arteries without making a sound.

• Check your blood pressure once a month.
• Less salt.
• Every day, work out.

4. Take care of your diabetes

• High blood sugar makes arteries stiffer, which raises the risk of blockages.
• Check your blood sugar levels.
• Eat foods that are good for diabetics.

5. Stop smoking

If you smoke, your chances of having a heart attack or stroke go up by two.

Put quitting at the top of your list.

• Avoid stress, as stress causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of heart damage.
• Do deep breathing and meditation.
• Get seven to eight hours of sleep every day.

When to Go to the Doctor

You should see a doctor right away if you have chest pain that won't go away, trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, sudden fatigue, dizziness, or swelling in your legs. You need to get medical help right away if you see these signs, which could mean a Heart attack and stroke are about to happen. Even if your symptoms don't seem too bad, you should still see a doctor, especially if you have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, or a family history of heart disease. Regular heart check-ups and monitoring can help find problems early and make it much less likely that they will lead to serious problems.

Conclusion

Heart attack and stroke don't just happen out of nowhere; they usually build up over time. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that 80% of these cases are preventable. avoided, which constitutes positive news. We could save millions of human lives if people made better choices, learned more, and asked for help when they needed it.

By learning how to tell the difference between a stroke and a heart attack, how to spot the early signs of a heart attack, and how to stop them, you can protect your heart while enhancing your health and longevity.