Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Diseases-conditions / Heart-attack / Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest: Here’s what you need to know

Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest: Here’s what you need to know

The term sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack are often used synonymously but they are not the same. It is imperative to provide immediate treatment in both cases to ensure survival. 

By: Editorial Team   | | Updated: February 22, 2019 12:58 pm
Tags: Angioplasty  CPR  Defibrillation  Sudden cardiac arrest  
sudden-cardiac-arrest heart attack
Do you know that there's a difference between sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack? ©Shutterstock

Did you know that the survival rate of those who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is less than 15% according to statistics and that about 50% of the cardiovascular deaths are due to a SCA and another 75% of the latter can be linked to a previous heart attack. However, SCA and heart attack are not the same and it is important to understand the difference between the two. Also Read - MDH owner Dharampal Gulati dies of cardiac arrest: Watch out for the warning symptoms

Also Read - Argentine football legend Diego Maradona dies of cardiac arrest: Symptoms to look out for



Dr Anupam Goel, Principal Consultant, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi explains, “While a heart attack is a circulation problem, SCA is referred to as an electrical problem. A heart attack occurs due to blockage in one or more arteries of the heart. A heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to an SCA. SCA is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart causing arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). The heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. With this disruption in the heart function, other organs of the body also stop receiving blood supply. In the absence of immediate treatment, the person can die. A heart attack, on the other hand, is a circulation problem where blood flow to the heart gets blocked. In this condition, a blocked artery may prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the heart due to which that part of the heart muscle dies. Sudden Cardiac Arrest can occur secondary to a heart attack also. Also Read - Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest: They are not synonyms

The symptoms of SCA can be immediate and drastic including sudden collapse, no pulse or breathing, and loss of consciousness. Usual signs of a heart attack are discomfort on the left side of the chest or upper abdomen, shortness of breath due to exertion, vomiting and nausea.

Treatment for sudden cardiac arrest

Dr Goel says, It is important to take a heart attack patient to the hospital within one hour and treatment to be given immediately. An SCA is more serious and fatal and requires immediate action to ensure survival. The most effective way to treat sudden cardiac arrest is defibrillation. An SCA can be reversed if treatment is administered as soon as possible or within the first 5 to 10 minutes. It is important to begin CPR immediately and then find an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). There is also a need to provide CPR training to the masses to improve the outcome of SCA treatment.

Treatment for heart attack

The preferred treatment for a heart attack is primary angioplasty. It helps minimize damage to heart muscles. In this, a blocked artery is opened by using a balloon or by removing the plaque buildup. A stent/ wire mesh tube is inserted into the artery to keep it open after angioplasty. Nowadays, there are drug-eluting stents available which are coated with medicine. This medicine helps further prevent the arteries from re-closing. Other treatment options are antiplatelet medications, clot-dissolving drugs, and cholesterol-lowering medications.

Some tips to keep the heart healthy

Keep your BP, cholesterol, and sugar under control.

Avoid risk factors like smoking and excessive drinking.

Should have regular physical activity, physical inactivity is a significant contributor to the risk of heart attack.

Keep your weight under check.

Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet as also whole grains in your meal as they are a good source of fibre and nutrients.

Control portion size while eating and avoid overloading your plate. Limit unhealthy fats and cholesterol; choose low-fat protein sources.

Reduce intake of sodium in your diet.

See your doctor immediately in case of any chest discomfort, palpitation, breathlessness, or dizziness.

Published : February 22, 2019 12:52 pm | Updated:February 22, 2019 12:58 pm
Read Disclaimer

Crusade against cancer: New treatment and nutrients you can rely on

Crusade against cancer: New treatment and nutrients you can rely on

This is how you can deal with vulvodynia

This is how you can deal with vulvodynia

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • South African coronavirus variant may 'escape antibodies, cause reinfection'
  • ‘Enhanced immunity, no serious adverse events’: Lancet releases Covaxin’s Phase 1 trial data
  • Covid-19 variant detected in UK may be ‘more deadly than the older virus strain’
  • Beware! Coronavirus can damage your brain in many ways. Here’s what to know
  • You are at higher risk to catch Coronavirus in closed spaces. Here’s how

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Cardiovascular diseases: How the treatment for heart diseases has evolved?

Cardiovascular diseases: How the treatment for heart diseases has evolved?

MDH owner Dharampal Gulati dies of cardiac arrest: Watch out for the warning symptoms

MDH owner Dharampal Gulati dies of cardiac arrest: Watch out for the warning symptoms

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona dies of cardiac arrest: Symptoms to look out for

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona dies of cardiac arrest: Symptoms to look out for

Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest: They are not synonyms

Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest: They are not synonyms

Kapil Dev undergoes emergency angioplasty, stable: What does this mean?

Kapil Dev undergoes emergency angioplasty, stable: What does this mean?

Health News in Hindi

Breast Pain: कैस्टर ऑयल दूर करे ब्रेस्ट पेन, 4 अन्य घरेलू उपायों से पाएं स्तनों में होने वाले दर्द से राहत

Fat Reduce Tips: जानिए शरीर की खराब चर्बी को खत्‍म करने के 7 जादुई तरीके क्‍या हैं?

Maggi Recipe: एक ही तरह की बनी मैगी खाकर हो चुके हैं बोर, तो इन 3 हेल्दी-टेस्टी मैगी रेसिपी का लें मजा

थायरॉयड से छुटकारा पाने के लिए रोजाना करें ये 2 योगासन, शरीर की हड्डियां और मांसपेशियां होंगी मजबूत

डायबिटीज बुजुर्गों के शरीर को पहुंचाता है ज्‍यादा नुकसान, जानिए बुढ़ापे में ब्‍लड शुगर कंट्रोल करने के उपाय

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Pregnancy: Placental function can help diagnose diabetes and heart diseases
  • 5 ways to increase stamina to workout every day and stay healthy
  • 5 things your body hair is trying to tell you about your health
  • Insecure in your relationship? It may lead to postnatal depression in men
  • Beware! Simple fall may lead to life-threatening consequences

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.