Overview
Cardiovascular diseases are killing more and more people around the world, striking rich and poor alike. Those who survive a heart attack or stroke often need to take long-term medical treatment. If you have ever had a heart attack or stroke, or had to care for someone who has, you will know that these diseases can seriously affect the life of both the patient and his or her family. The effects can even reach beyond the family to the community.
Yet so many heart attacks and strokes could be prevented. That is why you should read this booklet. It explains why heart attacks and strokes happen and how you can avoid them. It tells you what you should do to avoid becoming a victim. This publication is available for free download, hard copies can be ordered from WHO Press.
1. Understanding heart attacks and strokes
Every year, about 12 million people throughout the world die of a heart attack or a stroke. These diseases affect the poor as well as the rich. Most people think that they are diseases of middle-aged men. The truth is that both
men and women suffer from heart attacks and strokes. Women are much
more at risk after menopause.
The good news is that you can take steps to help prevent heart attacks and
strokes.
What is a heart attack?
The normal heart
The human heart is only the size of a fist, but it is the strongest muscle in
the body. With every heartbeat, the heart pumps blood, carrying oxygen and
nutrients, to all parts of the body. The heart beats about 70 times a minute in
a person at rest. The heart rate increases when we are active or when we feel
strong emotions.
A heart attack
The heart itself gets oxygen and nutrients through blood vessels called the
coronary arteries. When the blood flow to the heart is cut off, the decrease
in the supply of oxygen and nutrients can cause lasting damage to this vital
organ. When the blockage is sudden, it is called a heart attack.
If the blockage is only partial and the blood flow to the heart is decreased, it
can cause chest pain called angina. It may not cause lasting damage to the
heart muscle, but it is a warning sign that a person could develop a major
heart attack.
A heart attack may also be called a myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis. Other terms you may come across include: Coronary heart disease,
Ischemic heart disease, Coronary artery disease, or Angina pectoris.
What is a stroke?
The normal brain
The brain can only function if blood is flowing through it. Two large blood
vessels, which run along either side of the neck, bring blood from the heart
to the brain. The blood vessels branch off and get smaller and smaller, until
tiny blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the brain.
A stroke
A stroke happens in the same way as a heart attack, but takes place in the
brain. If the blood flow to the brain is interrupted, the brain loses its supply
of oxygen and nutrients. This causes the damage to the brain tissue that we
call a stroke
