People tend to use “heart attack” and “cardiac arrest” for the same thing, but the two start from different faults in the heart. A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying the heart muscle gets blocked, while cardiac arrest happens when the heart’s rhythm breaks down and pumping stops. Knowing the difference helps you recognise warning signs and act in time.
According to Dr. Krishna Dhoot,Interventional Cardiologist in Pune at Hrudaysparsh Heart Care Centre, “Patients mix up these two terms all the time. In a heart attack an artery is blocked, and in cardiac arrest the rhythm has failed. The treatment differs, but the first step stays the same. Call for help early, whichever one it turns out to be. If chest discomfort is new, heavy or doesn’t ease with rest, get it checked.”
Have questions about heart attack or cardiac arrest? Speak to your cardiologist.
What Is a Heart Attack?
In a heart attack, one of the coronary arteries that feed the heart gets blocked. The heart carries on beating, and the person can usually still talk.
The cause. Fatty plaque builds up slowly on the artery wall. If it splits open, a clot forms over it and shuts off the flow, and the muscle beyond that point starts losing oxygen.
The symptoms. Most people feel pressure, heaviness or a squeezing in the middle of the chest. It can travel to the left arm, jaw, neck or back. Breathlessness, a cold sweat and nausea often come along with it.
The risk factors. High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and heart disease in the family all make it more likely. Women and people with diabetes sometimes get quieter symptoms, such as tiredness or an upset stomach, and these are easy to brush aside.
What Is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is an electrical failure. The heart stops pumping effectively, and once blood stops reaching the brain, the person can lose consciousness within seconds.
The cause. The heart’s rhythm turns chaotic, most often ventricular fibrillation, and the chambers just quiver. An earlier heart attack, a weak heart muscle or an inherited rhythm problem can be behind it. A rhythm that comes and goes can be picked up with ECG Holter monitoring.
What it looks like. The person drops without warning, doesn’t answer when spoken to and isn’t breathing normally. Some gasp. Others give no sign at all beforehand.
The first response. Call 112 and begin CPR by pushing hard push hard and fast on the centre of the chest, without waiting for the ambulance. If an AED is close by, switch it on and follow what it says.
What Decides the Treatment?
There’s no single plan, because it depends on what the tests find.
Which event it was. After a heart attack, the focus is on opening the blocked artery. After a cardiac arrest, the doctors first get the heartbeat back and then look for the reason it stopped.
How quickly care began. Heart muscle that gets its blood supply back early has a better chance of recovering.
How the heart is pumping. The echo result helps the doctor choose medicines and decide whether a device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator should be considered.
Your health history. Diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney trouble and earlier heart problems all change the plan. If a risk shows up, speak to a heart specialist early so monitoring and treatment can be planned properly.
Key Takeaways
- A heart attack is a blood supply problem. Cardiac arrest is a rhythm problem.
- A person having a heart attack may be conscious, while someone in cardiac arrest has collapsed.
- A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, and both need urgent medical attention.
- In cardiac arrest, call 112, start CPR and get an AED if one is nearby.
- An ECG, blood tests and an echo help doctors see how the heart is working.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest?
A heart attack means a blocked artery. In cardiac arrest the heart’s rhythm fails and the heartbeat stops.
Can a heart attack cause cardiac arrest?
Yes. A damaged heart muscle can slip into a dangerous rhythm, so a heart attack needs prompt treatment.
Is a person awake during a heart attack?
Mostly, yes. In cardiac arrest they collapse and don’t respond.
What should I do if someone collapses and isn’t breathing normally?
Call 112, start CPR and ask someone to get an AED if one is nearby.
Heart Attack – WHO
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/heart-attack
Heart Attack – NHLBI, NIH
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-attack
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
