Heart attacks and strokes both happen when gunk builds up in the blood vessels.

This study shows that fatty buildups in arteries (called plaques) can burst and cause heart attacks or strokes, meaning the same problem in the arteries leads to both conditions.

This study shows that making artery plaques more stable helps prevent heart attacks, and since the same plaques can also cause strokes, it supports the idea that both conditions come from the same root problem.