Heart attacks and strokes both happen when gunk builds up in the blood vessels.
Scientific Claim
Atherosclerotic plaque buildup in arterial walls is a common pathological mechanism underlying both myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
Original Statement
“A stroke is typically caused by the same plaque buildup in the arteries as heart disease.”
Context Details
Domain
cardiology
Population
human
Subject
atherosclerotic plaque buildup
Action
causes
Target
myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke
Intervention Details
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (2)
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.
Technical explanation
This paper directly links atherosclerotic plaque stability to reduced myocardial infarction in a mouse model, supporting the assertion that plaque buildup is a common mechanism underlying both MI and stroke (as stroke risk is also reduced via plaque stabilization).