Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest

Many people think that a heart attack and cardiac arrest are the same. However, they are actually different. Misunderstanding these conditions can lead to inaccurate responses during critical moments. Read on to find out more about what they are, how they are different, and how to manage the condition.

Heart Attack: An Overview

What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. This blockage can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle. It is essentially a circulation problem.

Causes and Symptoms of Heart Attack
Heart attacks typically occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition in which the vital blood vessels that nourish the heart become obstructed by cholesterol deposits. These deposits, known as plaques, can eventually rupture and form a clot that blocks the blood flow.

The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort that may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, light-headedness, and anxiety.

Treatment and Prevention of Heart Attack
Treatment for a heart attack usually involves medication to break down blood clots, reduce strain on the heart, and prevent future clots. In severe cases, procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery may be necessary.

Preventing heart attacks involves managing risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and physical activity through lifestyle changes and medication.

Cardiac Arrest: An Overview

What is a Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function, resulting from an electrical disturbance in your heart that disrupts its pumping action, stopping blood flow to the rest of your body. It is essentially an “electrical” problem.

Causes and Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest is often caused by arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat that prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively. It can also occur after a heart attack or during a recovery from one.

Unlike a heart attack, cardiac arrest often occurs without warning. Symptoms include sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing, and loss of consciousness.

Treatment and Prevention of Cardiac Arrest
A cardiac arrest requires immediate treatment with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a defibrillator – a device that sends an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Like a heart attack, preventing cardiac arrest involves managing heart conditions and lifestyle factors that increase the risks. This can include medication, surgery, or having an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted if you’re at high risk.

Overall, while both heart attack and cardiac arrest are heart-related emergencies, they are distinctly different. A heart attack is a circulation problem caused by a blocked artery, while cardiac arrest is an electrical problem caused by an irregular heartbeat.

Remember, both conditions require immediate medical attention. If you or someone else experiences heart attack or cardiac arrest symptoms, call for an ambulance immediately.