Many times we come across the terms heart attack and cardiac arrest. Are these two conditions different or are they two names describing the same condition? At the outset the one similarity these two conditions share is that they both are life threatening medical emergencies and require immediate attention. But both conditions are medically very different. In simple words, the major difference between the two is that, a heart attack is a problem related to blood circulation to the heart and a cardiac arrest is related to the electric conduction in the heart.
Through this health article let us understand more about heart attack and cardiac arrest and how different they are in mechanism, causes, symptoms, treatment, and survival.
Mechanism of Heart Attack
Heart is a muscular organ, and like any other muscle heart requires a continuous oxygen rich blood supply for its survival and functioning. The blood supply to the heart is carried out by coronary arteries. Heart attack happens when the blood supply to the heart is disrupted due to clots or blockages in the coronary arteries. The heart continues to beat normally but parts of the heart muscle weaned off from blood supply may die.
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest occurs when there is a disruption within the heart’s conduction (electrical) system due to cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias are irregular or abnormal heartbeats. Unlike in a heart attack where the heart continues to beat normally, in a cardiac arrest the heart actually stops beating.
Causes of Heart Attack
Coronary heart disease is the commonest cause for a heart attack. Other risk factors that may trigger a heart attack include:
- Unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle
- Being overweight and obese
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Uncontrolled blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Causes of Cardiac Arrest
As mentioned above the principal cardiac arrhythmias are the principal cause for cardiac arrest. Other risk factors include:
- Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)
- Cardiac anomalies - congenital heart diseases or valve anomalies
- Previous episode of heart attack
- Family history
- Smoking and substance abuse
Symptoms of Heart Attack
The heart attack symptoms may begin as mild symptoms and increase gradually or start suddenly and stay for a few hours. Heart attack typically presents as
- Chest pain - Heaviness and discomfort in the center or left side of the chest
- Chest pain radiating to shoulder and one or both the arms, neck or jaw, upper back or above the belly button
- Shortness of breath and panting with little physical activity or even at rest
- Profuse sweating without specific reason
- Dizziness and feeling lightheaded
- Rapid heart rate
Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest
The cardiac arrest often shows sudden symptoms causing the patient to collapse or gasp for breath. Other symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Absence of pulse
- Palpitations
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme Fatigue
- Absence or difficulty in breathing
Treatment of Heart Attack
Based on the strength and vitality of the heart muscles and the severity of the emergency, the doctor may opt to treat with procedures such as angioplasty, cardiac stent, pacemaker insertion, bypass or valve surgery, or heart transplant. They may also prescribe medications such as beta blockers, nitroglycerines, and pain relievers to aid recovery and prevent another attack.
Treatment of Cardiac Arrest
Since the heart actually stops beating during a cardiac arrest episode, immediate resuscitation with CPR or a defibrillator is crucial for restarting the heart. Failure of which may prove fatal. If the resuscitation is successful, the doctor may perform further tests to determine the cause and initiate other interventions such as medication, surgery, and lifestyle modification.
Survival With Heart Attack
With prompt medical attention the person who experienced a heart attack will have a healthy recovery and continue to live an active and full life by following the doctors’ instructions and practicing a healthy lifestyle with regular moderate exercises, healthy diet, weight management, and quitting habits such as smoking and alcohol.
Survival With Cardiac Arrest
Survival of a person who experienced cardiac arrest depends on the duration it took to resuscitate and restart the heart. The survival and recovery also depends on other factors such as brain damage due to heart’s stopped activity and any physical injuries sustained during the collapse of the cardiac arrest episode.
Take Home Message - Although medically heart attack and cardiac arrest are different, and both conditions have different symptoms and some overlapping symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, both conditions are life threatening emergencies that require immediate medical attention. Recovery and survival in both cases depends on how quickly the treatment was initiated.
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