|
Heart Disease
|
Heart disease describes many heart conditions. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common of these conditions and occurs when blood vessels in your heart become blocked or narrowed, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching your heart. It can cause chest pain called angina or even a heart attack. |
Living with Heart Disease
|
|
High Blood Pressure
|
Blood pressure (hypertension) is a measure of the pressure or force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels called arteries. The top number represents the pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood out (systolic) and the bottom number is the lowest pressure when the heart relaxes between beats (diastolic).
Blood pressure that is consistently more than 140 / 90 mm Hg is considered high, but if you have diabetes, 130 / 80 mm Hg is high. Normal blood pressure is below 120 / 80 mm Hg. |
|
|
Stroke
|
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function. It is caused by the interruption of flow of blood to the brain (ischemic stroke) or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). The interruption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die. The effects of a stroke depend on where the brain was injured, as well as how much damage occurred. A stroke can impact any number of areas including your ability to move, see, remember, speak, reason and read and write. |
Living with Stroke
Caregiver Guide to Stroke Recovery by the March of Dimes
Other Stroke Resources by the March of Dimes
|