Heart Disease and Stroke

 What is heart disease?
 Heart disease is sometimes called coronary or ischemic heart disease. Heart disease means that the heart is not working properly because there is buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries. This can cause heart attacks, heart failure or death.

About 1 in 12 Canadian adults live with diagnosed heart disease and it is the 2nd leading cause of death in our country. Men are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than women (1). 
What is stroke?

A stroke is a medical emergency. A stroke happens when blood stops flowing to a part of the brain (ischemic stroke) or bleeding occurs in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke), leading to damage to brain cells. The effects of a stroke depend on the part of the brain that was damaged, and the amount of damage done.

A stroke occurs in Canada approximately every 5 minutes. About 1.9 million brain cells die every minute during a stroke.

Risk factors for heart disease and stroke

 Those that cannot be changed
  • Family history
  • Increasing age
  • Male gender (for heart disease)
  • Female gender (for stroke)
  • Pregnancy and post-menopause

Lifestyle habits (can be changed or managed)
  • Diet high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol and sodium Lack of physical activity
  • Stress
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol and recreational drug use
  • Taking birth control and hormone replacement therapy

Medical conditions (can be managed)
  • Untreated high blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Blocked carotid arteries
  • Sleep apnea
  • Vascular cognitive impairment

Warning signs of a heart attack
  • Chest pain - such as tightness, heaviness, pressure, burning, or squeezing
  • Radiation of chest pain to arms, neck, back, or jaw
  • Shortness of breath
  • Paleness, sweating, or weakness
  • Nausea, vomiting and/or indigestion
  • Feeling of extreme anxiety, fear or denial

If you experience any warning signs, get help immediately.

 Women often experience "softer" symptoms which may come and go, including:
  •  Vague chest discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Indigestion-like sensations
  • Unexplained/unusual fatigue

Warning signs of a stroke

Use the FAST acronym to remember the most common signs of stroke.

  • F: Face, is it drooping?
  • A: Arms, can you raise both?
  • S: Speech, is it slurred or jumbled?
  • T: Time to call 9-1-1

Preventing heart disease and stroke

Almost 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented through healthy behaviours.

Prevention is key. Focus on:

Act immediately by calling 9-1-1. Chances of surviving and recovering from a heart attack or stroke are greatest if the symptoms are treated as fast as possible.

Learn CPR. Most heart attacks occur in the home, so learning CPR could save the life of someone you know.

More information:

 References:

  1. Government of Canada. (2022). Heart Disease in Canada.

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