15th Edition of International Research Awards on Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Heart Health Surviving a Stroke
Stroke-heart syndrome is a condition where people develop heart complications after an ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, making up 87% of all stroke cases. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow is blocked from entering the brain.
The heart problems associated with stroke-heart syndrome include: acute coronary syndrome, angina (chest pain), heart rhythm issues (atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation), heart attack, heart failure, and Takotsubo syndrome.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease (CHD), develops when the major blood vessels that supply the heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients become damaged or diseased.
The condition is usually caused by cholesterol-containing deposits called plaque. It is a waxy substance with a combination of cholesterol, fat and other substances which stick to the walls lining the blood vessels. Overtime they make arteries become harder and narrower and may cause a condition called atherosclerosis. Plaque buildup narrows coronary arteries, thereby decreasing the blood flow to the heart which eventually causes chest pain, shortness of breath or other signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease. Uncontrolled coronary artery disease or a complete blockage of arteries can cause a heart attack.
Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for millions of deaths each year. The...