The difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) Trusted Source, is a circulation problem as opposed to an electrical one.

A disruption in the blood flow to the heart causes a heart attack. When the heart stops circulating blood throughout the body, a cardiac arrest occurs. A cardiac arrest may follow a heart attack. A blocked artery causes a heart attack by obstructing blood flow to the affected area of the heart. The area of the heart starts to deteriorate as a result. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and stops beating suddenly.

The difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest is discussed in this article. It also goes over each condition’s signs and symptoms as well as what to do in an emergency.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

The heart stops pumping blood around the body, causing cardiac arrest, which occurs quickly and typically without warning. If medical care is not sought out right once, a person might go unconscious and pass away in a matter of minutes.

A heart attack, which results in an irregular heart rhythm known as arrhythmia, is the primary cause of many cardiac arrests.

Ventricular fibrillation is a frequent arrhythmia that causes cardiac arrest (VFib). VFib occurs when the electrical circuitry of the heart becomes disorganized. The heart fibrillates, which is another word for quivers, as opposed to beating.

Symptoms Of Cardiac Arrest

Often, loss of consciousness is the first sign of cardiac arrest. A person may exhibit cardiac arrest warning signs up to an hour before the cardiac arrest.

Warning signs include Trusted Source:

• Rapid heart rate
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest discomfort.
• Respiration difficulty
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Following a previous cardiac arrest, a person could be:

• Breathing irregularly or not at all
• Uttering gasping noises
• Unconscious
• A bystander will be unable to discover a pulse if they try to do so.

What To Do In Cardiac Arrest Emergency?

Cardiac arrest is an emergency. Thus, bystanders should assist right away. If two people are present, one should start performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while the other dials 911 and seeks an AED.

If an AED notices a risky cardiac rhythm, such as VFib, it is programmed to shock the heart with electricity. AEDs are frequently put on the outside of eminent public structures or inside of structures like malls, schools, hotels, and grocery shops.

A person experiencing a cardiac arrest has to be defibrillated with an AED as soon as possible since their likelihood of survival dramatically declines with time.

What Is Heart Attack?

When the blood supply to the heart is cut off, a heart attack occurs. This often occurs when a blood clot obstructs a coronary artery.

The area of the heart that typically gets blood from the blocked artery starts to die, but the heart continues to pump blood throughout the body.

A heart attack may be deadly and seriously harm the heart.

Coronary artery disease (CAD), in which fatty deposits called atheroma grow up on the arterial walls, is the most frequent cause of heart attacks. A clot can develop around an atheroma fragment that breaks off, obstructing blood flow.

Symptoms Of Heart Attack

Although a heart attack’s symptoms might often come suddenly, this is not always the case. Some patients experience modest symptoms that appear gradually over days or weeks. Reliable Source. The signs and symptoms of heart attacks might vary depending on the gender and even within the same person.

Yet, common heart attack signs and symptoms include:

• Chest discomfort or agony
• One or both arms, as well as the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, all feel heavy or burning.
• Respiration difficulty
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• A quick or irregular heartbeat
• Sweating

A silent heart attack, which can happen either without symptoms or with very minor signs, can happen to certain people. One estimate states that silent heart attacks make up approximately 50% of all heart attacks.

A person’s perception of pain may change as they age and/or have diseases like diabetes that weaken the nerves. Hence, a person may experience a heart attack without experiencing any discomfort.

What To Do In Heart Attack Emergency?

When someone believes they are suffering a heart attack or that of someone they are with, they should take the following steps to increase their chances of success:

• making a quick 911 call
• calming down
• If feasible, chewing and swallowing 325 milligrams of aspirin
• awaiting emergency medical assistance (EMS)

The AHA Trusted Source advises calling an ambulance as opposed to driving to the emergency room (ER), as EMS personnel can start treating the patient as soon as they arrive. Hence, patients who arrive by ambulance at the ER typically receive care earlier than those who arrive by car. The more quickly someone receives therapy, the better.

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Which Is More Dangerous Heart Attack Or Cardiac Arrest

Although both a heart attack and cardiac arrest are critical, sometimes fatal disorders of the heart, their causes and prognosis vary.

A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, happens when one or more coronary arteries get blocked, cutting off the blood supply to the heart muscle. Chest discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and exhaustion are just a few of the symptoms that can result from this injury to the heart muscle. Despite the fact that a heart attack can be a significant medical emergency, the damage to the heart is frequently prevented or minimized with quick treatment. Although both a heart attack and cardiac arrest are severe, sometimes fatal disorders of the heart, their causes and prognosis vary.

On the other hand, cardiac arrest happens when the heart abruptly stops beating, frequently as a result of an electrical issue in the heart that results in an irregular rhythm. Without early medical assistance, this can induce an abrupt loss of consciousness and respiration, which can swiftly result in death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation must be administered right away in the case of cardiac arrest in order to restart the heart.