Heart Attack Vs Cardiac Arrest: Know The Difference And Save Lives This World Heart Day

Learn the key differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest, recognise symptoms, and take life-saving action this World Heart Day.

Every year on World Heart Day, we are reminded of the importance of heart health. Heart-related emergencies can be life-threatening, but most individuals do not understand the differences that exist between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. Although they both impact the heart, they do so radically different in their causes, symptoms and immediate treatment.Knowing these differences will save lives.

What is a Heart Attack?

Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is first a blockage in blood to some section of the heart.These obstructions normally occur due to a coronary artery blockage caused by a clot in the arteries that can be transporting blood and oxygen to the heart muscles.Theoxygen-deficient muscle of the heart starts dying.

Common Symptoms of a Heart Attack

• Pain or discomfort in the chest that is typically characterised as pressure, squeezing or fullness
• Radiated pain into the back, arm, neck and jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, lightheadedness or cold sweat

Although a heart attack does not have to be sudden, it can progress with symptoms over the next hours or even over days.Synthetic medication is necessary to reinstate the circulation of blood and minimise heart muscle damage.

What is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest refers to the abrupt termination of the heart's activity, which could be a result of an electrical issue in the heart. The heart fails to beat efficiently, thus halting the blood supply to the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac arrest is usually sudden and normally fatal unless resuscitated as soon as it happens.

Common Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

• Sudden collapse
• No pulse
• Loss of consciousness
• No breath, or dyspnoea

Unlike a heart attack, a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem, which is a blood flow problem. The response must be fast calling an ambulance and administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) will save a life. It can also be used to start the heart by use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) should it be present.

Key Difference Between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest

While a heart attack is a problem that comes about because of blood clots which block the arteries, cardiac arrest is an electrical problem where the heart stops beating.Remarkably, a severe heart attack may occasionally lead to cardiac arrest, hence, the importance to identify precautionary evidence and respond swiftly.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

The positive aspect is that an unhealthy heart lifestyle howbeit heart attacks and a heart attack may be avoided by living a healthy heart lifestyle.Eating correctly, exercising, quitting smoking, managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, stress management are all important steps necessary to keep your heart safe.