Are Heart attack and Cardiac Arrest different?

Are Heart attack and Cardiac Arrest different?

Heart attack and cardiac arrest are two distinct medical conditions. They both affect the heart and so people tend to use them interchangeably, but they are different, have different causes and symptoms.

Heart attack, called myocardial infraction is caused by decreased of blood flow.
It is caused when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked. A coronary artery, the blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart muscle, may become narrowed due to build-up of plaque, a waxy substance made of cholesterol and other materials. When plaque ruptures it can form a blood clot which could completely or partially block blood flow to a portion of the heart.

This can lead to damage to the heart muscle and cause symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and sweating. A heart attack can be life-threatening, and immediate medical attention is required to minimize the damage to the heart.

The risk of heart attack increases with

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Family history of heart disease
• Increasing age
• Smoking
• Stress

Cardiac arrest is caused when heart ceases to function.

The heartbeat is controlled by an electrical pulse that is generated in one part of the heart. This pulse travels along a set pathway to trigger the regular contractions of the heart. When this electrical pulse is disturbed or stopped, the heart will stop beating. The most common cause of cardiac arrest is a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation.
A cardiac arrest causes a person to collapse and lose consciousness. It is a medical emergency. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation should be given immediately to restore heart’s function to prevent brain damage and save life.

The risk of cardiac increases with
• Coronary artery disease
• Previous heart attack
• Heart failure
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart valve disease
• Family history of cardiac arrest
• Certain medications
• Drug overdose
• Electrolyte imbalances (such as low potassium or magnesium levels)
• Drug or alcohol abuse

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the firs step in maintaining heart health. Getting a regular heart check-up is the second step. This is particularly important if you are at high risk.

Being a cardiac super-speciality hospital, we offer the most comprehensive cardiac care for all heart conditions for patients of all ages. Consult our expert for the best preventive heart care, the best management of heart disease, and the best cardiac procedures and surgeries. We can also guide you to living a healthy lifestyle to boost your heart health.