Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Knowing The Difference Could Save A Life

Both a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are medical emergencies, however a cardiac arrest needs immediate treatment to prevent death. It is true that most people believe cardiac arrest and a heart attack are basically the same, but they are not. Let’s take a deeper dive. Cardiac arrest vs. heart attack: knowing the difference could save a life.

What Happens During A Heart Attack

Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is interrupted or cut off. Known medically as a myocardial infarction, it usually happens when a coronary artery develops a blockage and oxygen rich blood does not reach the heart. It is a circulation problem. The longer the blockage continues, the more damaged the heart muscle becomes.

You may have subtle or very obvious symptoms, and they are different for men and women. A man may experience the following:

Nausea
Chest pain
Sweating
Pain in one or both arms or radiating down the shoulders
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness

Television and movies have conditioned us to think these symptoms happen quickly and all at once. The fact is they can occur over a period of time before the heart attack.

The symptoms for women are somewhat different. These include fatigue, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, a feeling of uneasiness, and dizziness. These symptoms can last for days before the heart attack.

It is important to report any combination of these symptoms to our board-certified cardiologists at New Jersey Cardiology Associates. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911.

How A Cardiac Arrest Is Different

A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops! Sudden cardiac arrest is exactly that: sudden. There are no early symptoms. This is an electrical problem with the heart causing it to stop beating. The result is loss of consciousness or responsiveness, and there is no pulse. The heart has stopped pumping blood to the brain or other organs.

If this happens, the person must get immediate treatment as death can happen within minutes.

Do the following:

You or someone else call 911.
The person needs immediate CPR, and if possible you should get an automated external defibrillator (AED). Many facilities have them available so ASK. Follow the directions to get the heart beating again. If no defibrillator is available, continue CPR until medical help arrives.

Many times a cardiac arrest occurs after a heart attack, so a heart attack increases the risk of having a cardiac arrest. Talk to New Jersey Cardiology Associates if this is true for you or someone you love.

What You Can Do

Know the difference between a cardiac arrest vs a heart attack and be aware of the symptoms.
Learn CPR and have everyone in your family take a course.
If you or your family frequent public facilities like sports complexes or government buildings, check to see if they have an AED. If they don’t, request that they get one.