What’s the Difference Between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?
Often, there can be confusion around the discussion of heart attack and cardiac arrest. While they both concern the heart, they are different.
A heart attack occurs when a blockage prevents blood from freely flowing through the heart. A heart attack can happen suddenly or start slowly. In fact, the symptoms can be mild or non-existent. Individuals may not even know they have suffered a heart attack. And, symptoms can be vastly different from person to person and for men and women.
Because oxygen-rich blood is no longer reaching a certain part of the heart, the longer a person goes without treatment, the more permanent damage to the heart.
Symptoms of a heart attack may include:
- Chest pain
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body – may occur in arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath
Women may experience symptoms such as cold sweat, nausea or back and jaw pain. Symptoms not as often associated with a heart attack.
Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, occurs suddenly and without warning. Unlike a heart attack, cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction that causes an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. This sudden arrhythmia stops the heart from pumping. With the heart suddenly stopped and no blood flowing to vital organs, the person loses consciousness and can die within minutes unless lifesaving measures are taken immediately. Lifesaving measures include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) followed by the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
CPR can help to keep the heart pumping and blood flowing. This helps to maintain blood and oxygen flow to vital organs until medical assistance arrives on scene. In addition, the electrical shock provided by an AED can help to jumpstart the heart and restore a normal heart rhythm.
Unfortunately, the shock of witnessing a cardiac arrest can leave bystanders frozen in place. Even though the same lifesaving measures are available to all of us, few of us are prepared to use them. Of those cases of cardiac arrest that occur outside of a hospital, CPR is only administered in 39 to 44 percent of cases. Only 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest according to a report published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Anyone who witnesses a cardiac arrest can perform CPR. This simple act can double or triple the chances that a victim of cardiac arrest will survival. With 70 percent of cardiac arrests occurring in private homes according to the American Heart Association it is important for family members to be prepared to act in such a situation.
Providing hands-only CPR is an easy skill that can save a life in just two steps – call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. Continue to perform CPR until emergency medical assistance arrives.
For many people, there are early warning signs that your heart is not functioning properly or that you are having a heart attack, which could result in sudden cardiac arrest.
Symptoms and signs to seek medical attention:
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme dizziness
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Loses of consciousness
- Clammy skin or cold sweats
- Pain in neck, jaw, arms and/or upper back
- Abdominal pain
- Unusual fatigue
While heart attack and cardiac arrest are two different heart conditions, they may be linked. Heart attacks can lead to an increased risk for cardiac arrest – after the heart attack or during recovery. And, while other heart conditions can lead to cardiac arrest, heart attacks are the most common cause leading to cardiac arrest.
It is important to be aware and honest with a primary care provider about any symptoms you may be experiencing. Having a conversation with doctor about your family history of heart disease can also be valuable. If you are having trouble breathing, heaviness or tightness in your chest, or trouble thinking clearly, call 911 right away. You may be having a heart attack.
Learn more about Bronson’s heart and vascular program and our team of Bronson heart experts.
Visit our Life Support Classes & Training page to find more information about basic life support, CPR, AED and first aid courses available for healthcare professionals, educators and members of the community.
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.
