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.