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Cardiac arrest and heart attack are two utterly different heart conditions that may occur anytime, but most people confuse these two conditions. So now it’s time that we analyze the fundamental difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest. Both of these impact the same organ, but they have different symptoms, cause and treatment approach.
A heart attack happens when the heart fails to pump the blood, whereas cardiac arrest is more of an electrical malfunction in the heart. To understand this, we must first understand the exact underlying cause behind these conditions and every little fact related to it to get a clear idea about the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest.
Occurrence- To know what is the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, you must understand how these conditions appear. Cardiac arrest is a phenomenon that occurs when the heart stops beating or starts beating abruptly, which ultimately results in freezing the blood pumping action of the heart to brain, lungs and other organs. If the blood circulation stops suddenly even just for a few seconds, cardiac arrest can even be fatal, and the patients can lose their pulse and become unconscious.
On the contrary, a heart attack occurs due to a blockage in the coronary arteries as these are responsible for transporting the oxygen-rich blood flow into the heart. Now when an artery gets blocked, eliminating this blockage is complicated and as a result of which the affected area starts dying slowly. However, in cardiac arrest, the heart does not stop beating, but this can also be fatal if not cared about on time.
Symptoms- Now speaking about cardiac arrest vs heart attack in terms of symptoms, both these conditions exhibit similar symptoms. The early cardiac arrest symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness, chest pain and even nausea. For even a few seconds, patients enduring cardiac arrest will lose their breath, become unresponsive or even unconscious and might be left with no pulse.
Whereas, the early symptoms of heart attack are slightly different from cardiac arrest. A person enduring will mostly start to feel anxious, lightheaded, sick, weak, and even a little chest pain. When the heart attack commences, the person may start coughing, wheezing and may even feel extreme chest pain accompanied by extreme sweating.
Causes- Cardiac arrests mostly occur due to several factors like excessive alcohol consumption, electrocution, drop in blood pressure, drug usage and other causes. Arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm, other heart diseases and heart attacks may also lead to a cardiac arrest situation.
However, a heart attack is usually more common in smokers; obese or older adults have high blood pressure or are suffering from diabetes. Not just this, people who lead an unhealthy lifestyle, have a family history of heart disease or have high cholesterol are also at a higher risk of suffering from a heart attack.
Post-occurrence Dealing with the condition – When comparing what’s the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack one must know that anyone suffering from a cardiac arrest has all the chances of survival only with rapid medical intervention. However, the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) must be performed immediately after getting a cardiac arrest. The CPR must be continued until the person receives professional medical service and in extreme cases, Automated External Defibrillator
(AED) may also be used.
The AED is such a device that sends an electric shock to the heart that also helps to restore the heartbeat. Furthermore, people suffering from a heart attack may endure symptoms much before the actual attack. In case you find any of the early symptoms of a heart attack, you must rush to the hospital as early as possible especially if you have anyone in your family who has dealt with similar conditions in your family history. You must be very cautious and immediately consult with a doctor even when the slightest chest pain appears, or the pain spreads through your arms or jaws.
You might be surprised after knowing the difference between a cardiac arrest and heart attack that these two conditions are likewise linked. Anyone may experience a sudden cardiac arrest following with a heart attack or during the recovery period. However, heart attacks may increase the chances of a sudden cardiac arrest, but most heart attacks do not lead to a cardiac arrest situation suddenly.
Still, there are numerous heart conditions like long Q-T syndrome, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, etc. that may arise that might end up disrupting the heart’s rhythm that may take you a step closer to a cardiac arrest. You may always seek professional help even with the slightest symptoms to help you undergo a faster diagnosis and recovery.
After reading all the heart attack vs cardiac arrest differences one must be aware that heart diseases can be dangerous unless your underlying heart diseases are not controlled. Now there are several ways to keep your heart healthy, and the first element is by leading a healthy lifestyle. Exercising and eating healthy food is one of the most crucial things that need to be done regularly to keep your heart healthy.
A person must also eliminate unhealthy habits like smoking, emotional stress, obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, and pressure to minimize the chances of getting a heart attack or a cardiac arrest. To ensure that you can help the person experiencing a heart attack or a cardiac arrest, you must first understand the primary difference between heart attack
and cardiac arrest.
That will help you deal with the situation more tactfully or explain to the doctor everything about the patient’s physical condition. However, apart from the factors that you know, several unknown factors may also give rise to such conditions and might take the situation out of control.
We can’t do things that are out of our control, but we must do what’s within our power, leading a healthy lifestyle to minimize the risk of having heart diseases. Be healthy, get your heart checked frequently and remember fast actions can save a life.
One of the hallmarks of our facility is the inclusion of 6 state-of-the-art critical care units.
These units are dedicated to ensuring that patients facing severe and life-threatening conditions receive immediate and specialized care.
Additionally, our 8-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is equipped with the latest technology to monitor and manage patients who require intensive medical attention.
Patients can also benefit from the spacious general beds while they recover.
One of the hallmarks of our facility is the inclusion of 6 state-of-the-art critical care units.
These units are dedicated to ensuring that patients facing severe and life-threatening conditions receive immediate and specialized care.
Additionally, our 8-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is equipped with the latest technology to monitor and manage patients who require intensive medical attention.
Patients can also benefit from the spacious general beds while they recover.