Heart Diseases
Disease doesn’t exist in isolation, and there is a close relationship between heart diseases and strokes. Several forms of heart disease are considered to be the risk factors for stroke, and coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of them. Coronary heart disease is the build-up of bad cholesterol and other toxic substances in the artery, interrupting the flow of oxygen-filled blood to the brain. [11] Atrial fibrillation is another cardiovascular condition that causes irregular heartbeats and enlarged ventricles surrounding the heart. This condition increases the risk of heart failure by causing the muscles to stretch excessively, making it difficult to pump blood and leads to blood clots. Another example is heart valve disease, which happens when the valves become narrowed or stiffened, stopping enough blood flowing into the heart and causing heart failure. People with heart valve defects are more likely to experience a stroke due to the inadequate oxygen supply and compensatory hyperfunction of the heart.