Difference Between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest

Many people receive heart disease and cardiac arrest wrongly despite their differences because this leads to fatalities during urgent situations. Differentiating these conditions matters for saving lives during emergencies and providing the right care.

Heart diseases or cardiovascular diseases stay number one in global mortality statistics because they are responsible for 17.9 million deaths each year. The World Health Organization shows heart diseases trigger 3 of every 30 deaths worldwide.

Heart attacks result from blockages in heart blood vessels, but cardiac arrest happens when electrical heart problems interrupt heartbeat. These health crises need different emergency care at varying speeds because they have distinct treatment needs.

This guide will show you how to detect warning signs along with the main causes of heart attacks and cardiac arrest while teaching you the necessary responses to save someone in their time of need.

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Key Differences

Here is a simple chart that explains the main differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest.

Differences between Heart Attack & Cardiac arrest

People often mistake cardiac arrest for heart attack events, although these conditions involve different medical problems. The underlying causes of heart attacks and cardiac arrests differ completely. Knowing how heart attacks and cardiac arrests differ allows us to perform appropriate care responses in emergencies. Here are some key differences of heart attack and cardiac arrest:

Heart Attack:

1. A heart attack develops when an artery becomes blocked and stops flowing blood to the heart.
2. A heart attack develops from coronary artery disease, which involves plaque accumulation inside heart blood vessels.
3. Heart Attack symptoms develop slowly and start popping up from hours to weeks ahead of time.

Cardiac Arrest:

1. The heart stops working immediately because of an electrical system breakdown.
2. Abnormal heartbeat patterns lead most of the time to this problem.
3. Happens suddenly without warning.

Key Takeaways:

• When an artery blocks oxygen from reaching heart muscle tissue, it becomes a severe circulation problem called a heart attack. 
• When cardiac arrest happens, the heart loses its regular beating pattern because of irregular electrical activity.
• Without prompt treatment, a heart attack can cause cardiac arrest to happen.

You should call emergency medical services right away when you notice chest pain or breathing problems plus sudden collapses around you.

What is Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when blood stops flowing to the heart, which cuts off its supply of oxygen. The heart muscle does not receive oxygen because plaque (cholesterol and fat) builds up in the coronary arteries. If doctors do not treat the heart attack promptly, the heart muscle will gradually become hurt.

A heart attack creates chest pain and breathing problems, nausea, and sweating, pain moving through the arms to the jaw. Heart attack demands fast medical help to restore oxygen flow and prevent the risk of fatal heart conditions such as heart failure and cardiac arrest.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Heart attack symptoms usually show themselves before the attack occurs. Here are all the well-known heart attack symptoms.

• The chest area shows strained pressure, like a squeezing sensation.
• The pain may move from its original location into various parts of the arms, jaw, neck, back, or stomach.
• Shortness of Breath – Difficulty breathing, even when resting.
• A sudden cold sweat happens without reason, according to many heart attack survivors.
• Nausea or Vomiting – Feeling sick to the stomach.
• You feel a sudden loss of strength followed by fainting.
• Fatigue becomes a new normal state of being tired in women.

A heart attack may appear without chest pain symptoms. The regular occurrence of nausea and breathing problems during a heart attack impacts female and senior patients more often than others.

Causes of Heart Attacks

A heart attack develops when the arteries restrict blood flow to the heart muscle. The most common causes include:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops when plaque builds in arteries, narrowing blood passage.
• High blood pressure adds excessive stress to your heart, making it more likely to develop a blockage.
• High Cholesterol makes arteries narrow by building fatty deposits inside them.
• Smoking leads to blood vessel injury and raises the chance of blood vessel blockages.
• High blood sugar levels can speed up artery harm.
• High-fat and sugary foods in unhealthy diets lead to heart disease development.
• Chronic stress combined with little physical activity makes heart disease more likely to occur.

How to Treat a Heart Attack

A fast response to heart attack signs can help save someone’s life. Here’s what to do:

• Contact emergency services at 044 4005 4005 for the Chetpet area or 044 4047 4047 for the Velanppanchavadi area.
• Direct the person experiencing a heart attack to sit down with minimal movement.
• The doctor recommends using aspirin because this drug thins blood and enhances blood circulation.
• Take Nitroglycerin as prescribed to relax blood vessels and let oxygen flow more easily.
• Check for Normal Breathing Pace, Pulse, and Consciousness.
• Start Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) when the person collapses and stops responding.

What is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest suddenly occurs when all electrical activity in the heart fails to function correctly. The sudden failure of the heart causes instant loss of consciousness as well as halts blood circulation and breathing. A heart attack happens when arteries are blocked, but cardiac arrest develops from dangerous heart rhythm problems like ventricular fibrillation.

The body suffers significant brain damage and dies within a few minutes unless doctors treat the problem without delay. The emergency response requires performing CPR chest compressions while using the AED to restart the heartbeat. The ability to respond rapidly when cardiac arrest occurs directly impacts survival chances and demands clear education about appropriate medical care.

Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

The body shuts down immediately and produces intense signs when cardiac arrest starts.

• The casualty loses consciousness without warning.
• When the heart stops working, blood flow stops, making it impossible to find any pulse.
• The person stops normal breathing and starts producing strangely erratic gasps.
• The person shows no reaction to sound or physical stimuli.
• When heart attack signs appear before the arrest takes place, people feel chest pain and can become lightheaded.

Action to Take:

Call emergency services immediately. Begin CPR efforts when the person shows no response.

Causes of Cardiac Arrest

The most frequent cause of cardiac arrest is an irregular electrical pattern of the heart. The most common causes include:

• A blocked pumping rhythm known as Ventricular Fibrillation quickly halts the heart’s proper blood circulation.
• A heart attack generates electrical problems that stop the heartbeat.
• Heart Failure develops when poor pumping ability reduces blood movement.
• Too little potassium or magnesium in the blood will interrupt heart functions.
• Too much drug or alcohol can stop the heartbeat by slowing it down.
• Genetic Disorders such as Long QT Syndrome bring about sudden cardiac arrest in individuals.

How to Treat Cardiac Arrest

A cardiac arrest needs urgent help as time becomes critical. Follow these steps:

• Call the Emergency Services at 044 4005 4005 (Chetpet) or 044 4047 4047 (Velanppanchavadi).
• Start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation):
• Make 120 controlled pushes on the chest with intense beats of both hands.
• Let the chest return to its natural position naturally before starting new compressions.
• Use an available Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to deliver electrical charges and restart the heart.
• Maintain CPR until medical staff reaches the scene, as brain damage starts with short blood circulation stops.

How Are They Connected?

While a heart attack and cardiac arrest represent separate medical issues, they strongly relate to one another. A heart attack happens when blocked blood keeps the heart muscle from getting the needed oxygen it needs. When heart damage affects the electrical system of the heart, it triggers a cardiac arrest by shutting down its pumping function.

Heart attacks do not always result in cardiac arrest, but they make a severe heart attack more likely to trigger it. The best way to avoid cardiac arrest following a heart attack is to receive medical treatment right away. Acting fast can save a life!

Prevention Tips

You should build a healthy heart lifestyle while controlling risks to avoid heart attack and cardiac arrest. Follow these key prevention tips:

Maintain a Heart-Healthy Diet

• Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Avoiding saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can block your arteries from clogging.
• Moderate your intake of salty processed foods and foods to help you control your blood pressure.

Exercise Regularly

• Perform at least 30 minutes of mild activities such as walking, swimming, and cycling each day.
• Regular strength training and stretching movements protect blood circulation and strengthen your heart.

Manage Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

• Display your blood pressure and cholesterol results at scheduled tests with your doctor.
• Your doctor-prescribed medications need to be taken at the times they direct.

Quit Smoking & Limit Alcohol

• Smoking weakens your arteries and makes heart disease more likely to develop.
• Hampering alcohol consumption prevents it from harming your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

• Overweight people face a higher danger of developing both diabetes, heart problems, and high cholesterol.
• The key to healthy body weight lies in eating right and moving daily.

Manage Stress Effectively

• Engaging in yoga and yoga breathing sessions with meditation helps you lower stress levels through relaxation.
• Your heart needs rest periods through sleep to work efficiently.

Recognize Early Warning Signs

• Consult medical professionals at once when you get chest discomfort along with lightheadedness or breathing problems.
• Schedule visits to your doctor about your heart health when you come from a family with heart problems.

Learn CPR & Emergency Response

• Learning CPR can help you prevent someone’s death right after heart failure.
• When you witness someone collapse, call emergency services while you quickly begin to perform CPR.

Taking care of your health and mind while getting tested regularly and obtaining urgent medical help stops heart attacks and cardiac arrest.

Conclusion

Knowing how to tell heart attacks from cardiac arrest helps save many lives. Taking action without delay and getting medical assistance quickly are essential for surviving heart attack symptoms.

You should contact emergency services right away when someone shows signs of chest pain, breathing problems, or loss of consciousness.

Head to Mehta Hospital Cardiology Department for advanced heart care.

Emergency Contact Numbers:

• Chetpet: 044 4005 4005
• Velanppanchavadi: 044 4047 4047

Stay informed. Stay heart-healthy!