What\’s the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?

We\’ve all heard the terms and each one signifies a health crisis involving the heart. But heart attack and cardiac arrest aren\’t the same things. People often use these terms interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. 

What’s 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. During a heart attack, blood flow to the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot or a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

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 sudden cardiac arrest, the heart usually does not stop beating during a heart attack. The heart continues to beat, but because of the blockage, it is not receiving all the oxygen-rich blood it requires. 

\”If you believe someone is experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack,
call Emergency Response Africa (ERA) immediately.\”

What is Cardiac Arrest?

The term “cardiac arrest” means that the heart has stopped beating and needs to be restarted. While a heart attack is a circulation problem, cardiac arrest is an electrical problem triggered by a disruption of the heart\’s rhythm. Most heart attacks do not lead to cardiac arrest. However, when cardiac arrest happens, a heart attack is a common cause. 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. 

In cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating and needs to be restarted.

In many cases, cardiac arrest is a temporary condition experienced during a medical emergency. It is not necessarily preceded by heart disease, but many patients experience warning symptoms up to a month before cardiac arrest.

Because the heart stops beating during a cardiac arrest, blood and oxygen flow is cut off to the vital organs, including the brain and lungs. As a result, cardiac arrest can be fatal if it’s not resolved within minutes.

Symptoms of cardiac arrest include dizziness, loss of consciousness, and shortness of breath. Within seconds of cardiac arrest, a person will become unresponsive and have trouble breathing.

Call ERA immediately if you think someone has gone into cardiac arrest.

Using CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) can improve the survival rate over CPR alone by 23%. CPR is intended to pump the heart to get blood flowing and circulating to organs. The AED sends an electric shock to the heart in an attempt to restore its normal rhythm.

It\’s important to use these tools correctly. Emergency Response Africa (ERA) has extensive programs on learning how to perform CPR 

Symptoms of a cardiac arrest include:

• Sudden loss of consciousness/responsiveness
• No breathing (chest rise)
• No pulse

The lack of pulse is caused by the heart actually stopping during a cardiac arrest. As a consequence of this, the organs of the body are deprived of blood – this can lead to death.

The following warning signs may also occur in the period before a cardiac arrest:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Nausea

What to do: Heart Attack

Even if you\’re not sure it\’s a heart attack, call ERA. Every minute matters! It’s best to call ERA to get an emergency responder right away. ERA first responders can begin treatment when they arrive. ERA first responders are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too.

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What to do: Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is reversible in most victims if it\’s treated within a few minutes. First, call ERA for emergency medical services. Then get an automated external defibrillator if one is available and use it as soon as it arrives. Begin CPR  immediately and continue until professional emergency medical services arrive. If two people are available to help, one should begin CPR immediately while the other calls ERA and finds an AED.

Conclusion

In summary, there is a difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart stops and thus causes a section of the heart muscle to begin to die; whereas a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating as a whole. There are various symptoms of a heart attack. In contrast, the main symptoms of a cardiac arrest are unconsciousness, lack of breathing, and no pulse. Finally, there are many different causes of a cardiac arrest; whereas the main cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease.

1. A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest.
2. A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. The heart muscle is robbed of its vital blood supply and, if left untreated, will begin to die because it is not getting enough oxygen.
3. A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops pumping blood around their body and they stop breathing normally.
4. Many cardiac arrests in adults happen because of a heart attack. This is because a person who is having a heart attack may develop a dangerous heart rhythm, which can cause a cardiac arrest.
5. A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are both emergency situations. Call ERA straight away.