Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest: What’s the Difference?

Almost‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ everyone treats the words ‘heart attack’ and ‘cardiac arrest’ as the same thing, which is not true from a medical point of view. They are very different things: one is a problem with the heart’s pumping, while the other is an issue with the heart’s electrical activity, and knowing the difference may save a life. Both situations are severe and call for immediate help, but they happen due to different reasons, and thus, the help response should also be different. Being aware of these differences helps in taking the action very early, getting a faster diagnosis, and receiving the treatment on time.

In this blog, we will explain what each of the terms refers to, what causes they have, and the importance of identifying the symptoms to the greatest extent that help ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌arrives.

What Is a Heart Attack?

When‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ the blood supply to a certain part of the heart is blocked, a heart attack or medically called myocardial infarction, is the result. Most of the times, it is a thrombus or a deposit along the coronary arteries that causes the closure. The heart tissue which is deprived of oxygen starts to die.

It is not necessarily the case that the heart stops beating when a heart attack occurs. There are a lot of people who are still aware and even able to respond, at least during the initial period, which makes it very important to recognise the symptoms at the earliest ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌stage. 

Common Signs of a Heart Attack

Such‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ signs can be gradual or sudden:

• Chest pain, tightness, or uncomfortable pressing feeling
• Extension of pain to left arm, jaw, or back
• Dyspnea
• Indigestion or vomiting
• Cold sweat or unexpected weakness

It is characterized by the fact that females may as well have some faint symptoms like becoming dizzy, feeling an indigestion-type of discomfort, or unusual ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌fatigue.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

On‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ the other hand, cardiac arrest is a radically different case. It is a situation when the heart’s electrical system goes haywire, leading to the heart stopping its pump.

Consequently, no blood reaches the brain or other vital organs, therefore, the condition is of the highest emergency level.

Such a frightening event might take place anytime and anywhere, even among seemingly fit people. Chances of survival without CPR and defibrillator shock to the rescue reduce drastically to just a few minutes.

What Goes Wrong with the Body During Cardiac Arrest: 

• The heartbeat is either totally random or it is not there at all.
• The person loses consciousness and falls down immediately.
• Breathing becomes very irregular or stops altogether.
• There is no palpable pulse.

Severe arrhythmias, heart attack, electrolyte imbalances, or underlying heart disease can all lead to cardiac ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌arrest.

Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: Key Differences

1.‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ Cause: 

• Heart Attack: When blood flow is blocked
• Cardiac Arrest: When the heart experiences an electrical malfunction

2. Onset: 

• Heart Attack: Could be gradual or sudden, and the person is usually conscious
• Cardiac Arrest: It is sudden and the person goes into immediate collapse

3. Response Needed: 

• Heart Attack: Emergency medical help, drugs, or intervention to open up the blocked vessel
• Cardiac Arrest: Rescue breathing, chest compressions, and defibrillator use until the arrival of a doctor or paramedic

4. Relationship Between the Two: 

One heart attack can cause a cardiac arrest situation, but not every heart attack ends that ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌way.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ there is any indication of pain in the chest, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, or unexplained tiredness, these symptoms should be absolutely, under no circumstances, disregarded. In most cases, diseases related to the heart silently worsen, and hence, the very first medical treatment entrusts the patient with a much better prognosis.

The situation of silent symptoms also holds true, particularly for individuals who already have risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, increased cholesterol level, or possess a genetic predisposition of cardiac ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌diseases.

How Sugam Hospital Supports Cardiac Emergencies

Such‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ emergencies where the heart is the cause must be diagnosed quickly, and it is necessary to monitor the situation continuously and also have the expert care of a cardiologist. At Sugam Hospital, we are very quick to follow the evidence-based protocols to check out the cases of chest pain, rhythm disorders and other signs of the disease. We are able to provide the right kind of treatment on time due to our modern diagnostic devices and 24/7 emergency services.

If you or someone dear to you is in need of a cardiac check or continuous heart care, then a visit to a reliable centre can heal you a great deal. Sugam Hospital is the place where you get the best Cardiologist In Chennai and it is safe, expert-guided care that will help you in both heart attack management and cardiac arrest ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌prevention.