Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack - What’s the Difference?
Many people believe that the terms “heart attack” and “cardiac arrest” are referring to the same medical issue. However, these two medical emergencies are not the same. It’s important to know the difference between the two and how to conduct lifesaving measures appropriately.
What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack is a circulation problem that occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. When an artery is blocking oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, the area of the heart typically nourished by that artery begins to die. If the artery that is blocked is not reopened, the entire heart is in danger.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack:
Symptoms of a heart attack often come on suddenly and include extreme discomfort in the chest or upper body, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and cold sweats. Symptoms of a heart attack can also occur slowly and last for an extended period of time, which could include hours, days or even weeks. Heart attack symptoms can differ between men and women. Women may not experience any chest discomfort but may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, back or jaw pain, and nausea or vomiting.
What to do:
Because the lack of blood flow causes damage to the heart, the longer an individual goes without medical care after experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, the greater the damage can be. If you or a loved one is unsure about the symptoms they are experiencing, call 911 right away. Each minute matters when it comes to your heart!
What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem that occurs when the heart malfunctions and goes into arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or stops beating altogether. When the pumping motion of the heart is disrupted, blood can no longer be pumped to other vital organs, including the brain and lungs. Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest:
Once the heart stops beating, it only takes seconds before an individual goes unresponsive and stops breathing or is gasping for breath. Death can occur within minutes if the individual is left untreated.
What to do:
Call 911 immediately and begin hands-only CPR right away. Hands-only CPR is a simple intervention that anyone can do. Perform hands-only CPR until emergency personnel arrive. If there is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) available, use that as quickly as possible. Every second counts when an individual experiences cardiac arrest.
Want to learn more? Watch the American Heart Association’s videos below to learn more about hands-only CPR and how to properly use an AED.
Visit Bronsonhealth.com/LifeSupportTraining. You’ll find more information about basic life support, CPR, AED and first aid courses available for healthcare professionals, educators and members of the community.
