Both cardiac arrest and heart attack are critical medical emergencies necessitating immediate medical attention. Cardiac arrest poses a more imminent threat as it halts the heart’s effective beating, resulting in unconsciousness and potential fatality within minutes if not promptly addressed.
Cardiac arrest and heart attack are two distinct medical events related to the heart, but they differ in terms of their causes, mechanisms, and seriousness:
What is Heart Attack?
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked, usually by a blood clot. The blockage prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a portion of the heart, leading to damage or death of heart muscle cells.
Heart attacks often cause symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Unlike cardiac arrest, individuals experiencing a heart attack are usually conscious and may have symptoms for hours, days, or even weeks before the event.
Heart attacks are serious medical emergencies that require immediate medical attention. Prompt treatment can help minimize heart damage and improve the chances of survival.
What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function, typically caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart that disrupts its pumping action. During cardiac arrest, the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing it to stop beating effectively.
The individual may lose consciousness almost immediately and will not have a pulse. Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency and requires immediate intervention, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.
Without prompt treatment, cardiac arrest can lead to death within minutes.
Difference between Heart Attack & Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest is primarily caused by an electrical malfunction in the heart, whereas a heart attack is caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries. Cardiac arrest often occurs suddenly and without warning, while a heart attack may present with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea.
Individuals experiencing cardiac arrest typically lose consciousness immediately, while those having a heart attack are usually conscious and may experience symptoms for some time. A cardiac arrest requires immediate intervention with CPR and defibrillation, while a heart attack may be treated with medications to dissolve blood clots, procedures to open blocked arteries, or surgery.