Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "filmy heart
attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart
attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people
affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting
help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in
the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or
that goes away and comes back. It can feel like
uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms
can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back,
neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat,
nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom
is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more
likely than men to experience some of the other common
symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting,
and back or jaw pain
A HEART ATTACK occurs when blood flow to the heart is
blocked.
A heart attack is a “CIRCULATION” problem.
A blocked artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a
section of the heart. If the blocked artery is not reopened quickly,
the part of the heart normally nourished by that artery begins to
die.
WHAT HAPPENS?
Symptoms of a heart attack may be immediate and may include
intense discomfort in the chest or other areas of the upper body,
shortness of breath, cold sweats, and/or nausea/vomiting. More
often, though, symptoms start slowly and persist for hours, days or
weeks before a heart attack. Unlike with cardiac arrest, the heart
usually does not stop beating during a heart attack. The longer
the person goes without treatment, the greater the damage.
The heart attack symptoms in women can be different than
men (shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw
pain).
What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who
may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. The time and
mode of death are unexpected. It occurs instantly or shortly after
symptoms appear.
CARDIAC ARREST occurs when the heart malfunctions and
stops beating unexpectedly.
Cardiac arrest is an “ELECTRICAL” problem.
Cardiac arrest is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart
that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). With its pumping
action disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs
and other organs.
WHAT HAPPENS
Seconds later, a person becomes unresponsive, is not breathing
or is only gasping. Death occurs within minutes if the victim
does not receive treatment.
Is a heart attack the same as cardiac arrest?
No. The term "heart attack" is often mistakenly used to describe
cardiac arrest. While a heart attack may cause cardiac arrest and
sudden death, the terms don't mean the same thing. Heart attacks
are caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart. A
heart attack (or myocardial infarction) refers to death of heart
muscle tissue due to the loss of blood supply, not necessarily
resulting in the death of the heart attack victim.
Cardiac arrest is caused when the heart's electrical system
malfunctions. In cardiac arrest death results when the heart
suddenly stops working properly. This may be caused by
abnormal, or irregular, heart rhythms (calledarrhythmias).
A common arrhythmia in cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation.
This is when the heart's lower chambers suddenly start beating
chaotically and don't pump blood. Death occurs within minutes
after the heart stops. Cardiac arrest may be reversed
if CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is performed and a
defibrillator is used to shock the heart and restore a normal heart
rhythm within a few minutes.
People often use these terms interchangeably, but they are not
synonyms. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is
blocked, and sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions
and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly. A heart attack is a
“circulation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical”
problem.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack occurs when a blocked artery prevents oxygen-rich
blood from reaching a section of the heart. If the blocked artery is
not reopened quickly, the part of the heart normally nourished by
that artery begins to die. The longer a person goes without
treatment, the greater the damage.Symptoms of a heart
attack may be immediate and intense. More often, though,
symptoms start slowly and persist for hours, days or weeks before
a heart attack. Unlike with sudden cardiac arrest, the heart usually
does not stop beating during a heart attack. The heart attack
symptoms in women can be different than men.
What is cardiac arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and often without warning.
It is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes
an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). With its pumping action
disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and
other organs. Seconds later, a person loses consciousness and
has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if the victim does not
receive treatment
What is the link?
These two distinct heart conditions are linked. Sudden cardiac
arrest can occur after a heart attack, or during recovery. Heart
attacks increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Most heart
attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest. But when sudden
cardiac arrest occurs, heart attack is a common cause. Other heart
conditions may also disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to sudden
cardiac arrest. These include a thickened heart muscle
(cardiomyopathy), heart failure, arrhythmias, particularly ventricular
fibrillation, and long Q-T syndrome.