Difference between Cardiac Arrest and a Heart Attack
Our heart is the most vital organ in our body responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. With an unhealthy lifestyle and increasing age, a person’s heart health and functioning may weaken, leading to various heart conditions. Two such common heart conditions are cardiac arrest and a heart attack. Often, these two terms are used interchangeably, but they are distinct events with different causes, symptoms, and treatment. In this article, we will discuss the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack.
What is a cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is an emergency when the heart suddenly stops beating. It disrupts the blood flow to the brain and other vital organs, leading to loss of consciousness and death if not treated immediately. In cardiac arrest, the electrical signals that control the heart’s contractions become chaotic or stop altogether. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood effectively, and the person may collapse and stop breathing.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, is a cardiovascular event that occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked, often due to a sudden blood clot. It usually causes chest pain, discomfort, or pressure that may radiate to the arms, neck, jaw or back. A heart attack can damage the heart muscle, leading to permanent scarring or death if not treated promptly.
The differences
The key difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack is the cause and impact on the heart. A heart attack is a circulation problem, while cardiac arrest is an electrical problem.
– Cause: A heart attack is caused by a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart muscle, causing damage or death to the heart tissue. On the other hand, cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart, which interrupts the heart’s regular rhythm, leading to sudden cardiac arrest.
– Symptoms: The symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. In contrast, cardiac arrest results in sudden loss of consciousness or breathing, no pulse, and no response to stimuli.
– Treatment: The treatment for cardiac arrest is immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Once a person suffers from cardiac arrest, their survival rate is low. However, a heart attack requires medical attention, but the treatment can include medications, procedures, and lifestyle changes that help prevent complications and reduce the risk of death.
Conclusion
In summary, both cardiac arrest and a heart attack are serious heart conditions that can be fatal, but they are different in their causes, symptoms, and treatment. Knowing the difference between the two can help you respond appropriately in emergency situations and can save someone’s life. Proper heart care, a healthy lifestyle, regular checkups, and early intervention can help prevent these heart conditions and improve heart health.
Table difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack
| Condition | Definition | Cause | Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac Arrest | Sudden loss of heart function, resulting in cessation of blood circulation. | Electrical disturbances in the heart that cause it to stop beating properly. | Loss of consciousness, no breathing or pulse, sudden collapse. | CPR, defibrillation, medication, oxygen therapy. |
| Heart Attack | Blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in damage to the heart muscle. | Buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. | Chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, fatigue. | Medications, angioplasty, stent placement, bypass surgery. |