Last updated on January 10, 2022
Content By: Dr. Nikita Toshi BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review), Dr. Ritu Budania MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs
Last updated on January 10, 2022
As you’re probably aware already, the heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It helps supply clean blood, rich in oxygen to every part of the body, and therefore is essential to living a healthy life. However, just like any other organ in the body, the heart is also susceptible to infections, damage, and need for repair. You may already be aware of some conditions of the heart, such as a heart attack or a cardiac arrest. But do you know exactly what they are, and how they differ?
A cardiac arrest and heart attack are the two terms that are frequently used interchangeably. However, it is important to fully understand the differences between these two conditions, i.e. cardiac arrest vs heart attack. They are separate medical events that need different treatments. The only thing common between these two health situations is that they need immediate medical attention to prevent the situation from getting any worse.
When it comes to taking care of your heart, it is important to understand the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack and the treatment options for both. While it can seem overwhelming to be diagnosed with either of these conditions, it is essential that we read up on them and understand exactly what is happening in our body, so that we know our treatment options, and also how to take care of ourselves better in order to recover more quickly. So, read on to know all the details revolving around cardiac arrest vs heart attack.
As you’re probably aware already, the heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It helps supply clean blood, rich in oxygen to every part of the body, and therefore is essential to living a healthy life. However, just like any other organ in the body, the heart is also susceptible to infections, damage, and need for repair. You may already be aware of some conditions of the heart, such as a heart attack or a cardiac arrest. But do you know exactly what they are, and how they differ?
A cardiac arrest and heart attack are the two terms that are frequently used interchangeably. However, it is important to fully understand the differences between these two conditions, i.e. cardiac arrest vs heart attack. They are separate medical events that need different treatments. The only thing common between these two health situations is that they need immediate medical attention to prevent the situation from getting any worse.
When it comes to taking care of your heart, it is important to understand the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack and the treatment options for both. While it can seem overwhelming to be diagnosed with either of these conditions, it is essential that we read up on them and understand exactly what is happening in our body, so that we know our treatment options, and also how to take care of ourselves better in order to recover more quickly. So, read on to know all the details revolving around cardiac arrest vs heart attack.
Written by
BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review)
Reviewed by
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs
When it comes to heart attack and cardiac arrest, it is important to keep in mind that they are not synonymous. The cardiac arrest vs heart attack discussion can briefly be summarised in this way: the former is more of an ‘electrical’ issue and the latter is more of a ‘circulation’ issue. Let’s explain what cardiac arrest and heart attack are in detail for further clarification.
Cardiac arrest occurs due to sudden electrical malfunctions in the heart that lead to arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). As the pumping action of the heart gets disrupted, the heart stops sending blood to the organs. It makes the person lose consciousness and lose their pulse. Lack of treatment within minutes after sudden cardiac arrest can turn fatal.
Cardiac arrest and the deaths resulting from it is highly understudied in India. This is probably one of the reasons behind the ongoing heart attack vs cardiac arrest misunderstanding among people. It is surprising because at least ten percent of the deaths in India are due to cardiac arrest. It is not only one of the foremost causes of death in the country, but also in the world at large.
As you now know, cardiac arrest can be fatal. Here are some more important facts about the condition. Deaths due to cardiac arrest have increased by 53 percent in the last five years. In fact, over seven lakh people in India die from cardiac arrest every year. However, timely admission to hospitals has increased the survival rate to 32.5 percent. From this, we can infer that while cardiac arrest can be dangerous, it is very much possible to have a fulfilling life if you receive timely help and support.
A heart attack or myocardial infarction takes place when one or more of the arteries in the heart gets blocked. When the blocked artery stops oxygenated blood from flowing to a part of the heart, the section of the heart nourished by the artery starts dying. Without treatment, the damage keeps getting worse with time. This is why it is important to reopen the blocked artery as soon as possible.
There has been an increase in the number of cases of heart attacks in the country since 2014. Back in 2014, 18,309 people had died from a heart attack, whereas it claimed 28,005 lives in 2019. This huge increase in the total number of deaths is generally attributed to changing lifestyles. Furthermore, the cases are becoming more prevalent among 14 – 18 years old.
The annual cases of heart attacks in India are about 30 lakhs, out of which 15 lakh people die of the condition. Fifteen percent of these deaths occur before the patient is admitted to the hospital. The good news is that the survival rate of people admitted to hospital on time is around 90 to 97 percent. However, a heart attack does not always allow enough time for the hospital admission.
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In terms of the symptoms of heart attack vs cardiac arrest, they might be similar but they aren’t the same. It is important to understand the differences so that you know what treatment options are viable.
Symptoms of cardiac arrest are drastic and immediate. It includes:
At times, other symptoms and signs might occur before cardiac arrest, which are:
As a caregiver, one of the first things you need to do is call for emergency medical help before starting CPR. As for giving CPR, check the individual’s breathing first. Start the compressions only if the person is not breathing regularly.
In the case of cardiopulmonary arrest, keep pushing fast and hard on the centre of the chest at the rate of 110 to 120 compressions per minute. If you have prior training in CPR, take note of the airways of the person and offer rescue breaths in the interval of thirty compressions.
If you have no such training, keep giving chest compressions that should press the chest for about 2 inches (for an average adult). Let the person’s chest rise completely between the compressions. Do not stop doing it until emergency medical help arrives at the spot.
In terms of heart attack vs cardiac arrest, the symptoms of heart attack might vary for women and men. For example, men have a greater possibility of experiencing chest pain, whereas women are more likely to feel extreme fatigue and nausea.
In general, some of the common symptoms of heart attack (myocardial infarction) are:
Tightness or intense pain in the chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back.
Nausea or vomiting
Heartburn or abdominal pain
Breathlessness
Cold sweats
Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
Unconsciousness
You need emergency medical help in case you notice these symptoms and signs:
Chest pain
Nausea
Call for immediate medical care if you note the warning signs of a heart attack.
Also, heart diseases are easier to treat upon early detection. A few of the early signs of heart disease include chest pain, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and pain in the jaw, back, neck, or upper abdomen. Thus, it is important to talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your heart health. This is even more relevant when there is a family history of heart problems.
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Next up in the cardiac arrest vs heart attack discussion are the causes, contributing factors, and risk factors.
Genetic disorders
CDH2 is a type of gene that leads to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. It is a genetic disorder that predisposes individuals to cardiopulmonary arrest (stopping of required heart function and circulation, resulting in death)
History of congenital heart diseases
Congenital heart disease is the cause of cardiac arrest in adolescents or children. Adults undergoing corrective surgeries for congenital heart diseases still have a greater risk of cardiac arrest.
Abnormal heart rhythm
The electrical system of the heart controls the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat. Your heart can beat too slow or fast if there is anything wrong with the electrical system.
Sudden failure of the heart’s electrical system
In some cases, problems with the electrical system of the heart, known as primary heart rhythm abnormalities, cause cardiac arrest.
Genetic disorders
Certain genetic disorders make people predisposed to heart attacks. It also explains sudden cardiac deaths at a young age.
History of congenital heart diseases
Congenital heart diseases, i.e.,heart diseases occurring at birth are one of the leading causes of myocardial infarction. There are many types of congenital heart diseases prevalent in people.
Partial or complete blockage of the coronary artery
A Spasm or blockage of the coronary artery shuts down the blood flow to certain parts of your heart muscle. Using illicit drugs, like cocaine, might cause such dangerous spasms.
High buildup of fatty acids
The Buildup of plaque (fatty acids) is also one of the causes of myocardial infarction. The plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms at the point of the rupture. It blocks the blood flow and causes a heart attack.
There is no cardiac arrest versus heart attack debate when it comes to the risk factors. You can aim to eliminate or improve many of the following cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction risk factors to reduce the chances of having both cardiac arrest and heart attacks
Lack of physical activity
Tobacco consumption
Family history of coronary heart disease
Clotting disorders
If you are experiencing symptoms of heart attack or cardiac arrest, your doctor may suggest you take a few diagnostic tests to assess the risk of getting a cardiac arrest versus heart attack or gauge the extent of damage the heart has undergone. Few of those tests are mentioned below:
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): This is a painless, non-invasive test in which the electrical signals of your heart are recorded. The signals are displayed on the monitor. Since an injured heart is incapable of conducting electrical signals properly, the results of the test can show evidence of a previous heart or detect a heart attack that is in progress. The test can also help doctors identify which part of the heart has been damaged and measure the extent of the damage.
Chest X-ray: This test produces X-ray images of the chest which enables doctors to measure the size of your heart and check if there is any fluid in your lungs.
Echocardiogram (echo): In this test, ultrasound waves are used to create images of the moving heart. It helps the doctors check whether the heart’s chambers and valves are pumping blood as efficiently as they should. It also helps to detect if a part of your heart is damaged.
Coronary catheterization (angiogram): In this minimally invasive procedure, a catheter (thin tube) is inserted into an artery in the leg or groin. Then, a dye is injected into the catheter. The dye, in turn, makes the arteries visible. This can help the doctor identify the areas of blockage.
Cardiac MRI: Cardiac MRI produces images using magnetic and radio waves. This test helps doctors assess the extent of damage from heart attacks.
Lipid profile test:
A lipid profile test is also known as a complete cholesterol test, and can be used to estimate your risk of cardiac arrest and heart attack. It measures four types of fats in your body
Total cholesterol: The total cholesterol in your body
High-density lipoprotein (HDL): This is also known as “Good cholesterol” because it helps carry away LDL and keeps the arteries open and the blood flows smoothly.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): This is also known as “Bad Cholesterol” because it causes the build-up of plaque in the arteries, and can hamper your blood flow.
Triglycerides: It’s a type of fat in the blood. The body converts unneeded calories into triglycerides in the body.
Cardiac biomarkers:
Cardiac biomarkers refer to substances like proteins, enzymes and hormones that get leaked into the blood after your heart has been damaged from a heart attack or has been under severe stress. This type measures the level of these biomarkers in your blood, which, in turn, helps to assess the extent of damage from a heart attack.
A few of the cardiac biomarkers that are commonly used to diagnose heart attacks include:
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein test
A C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that is produced by the liver in response to inflammation in the body. When LDL creates plaque in the arteries, it damages them, and inflammation occurs. In response to this, the body sends different proteins to help repair the inflammation. CRP is one of these. Measuring CRP can thus help identify the risk of cardiac arrest and heart attack in the body
Natriuretic peptides test
Natriuretic Peptides are substances that are produced by the heart. Usually, only a small level of these peptides should be in your bloodstream. When these levels rise, it is an indication that the heart isn’t pumping as much blood as the body needs.
Troponin Test
Troponin is a type of protein that is found in the muscles of the heart. Normally, Troponin is not found in the bloodstream. When the muscles get damaged, troponin is released into the blood. Thus, testing the blood from troponin can give an indication of the strength of the heart muscles.
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Extending the first aid in the right way can save the life of a person in the case of a heart attack.
A heart attack does not affect only the heart, but rather the entire body. So, here are the signs that you should look for:
Left side chest pain: A discomfort or pain in the left or middle of the chest that feels like a sharp pain or squeezing.
Breathing problems: Shortness of breath before or after chest pain
Upper body discomfort: Discomfort or pain in one or both arms that reach the shoulders.
Lightheadedness: Feeling faint, weak, or breaking into cold sweats
If the person is unconscious and you do not find a pulse, call for immediate medical help and start CPR to ensure that the blood keeps flowing. If the person is conscious, call for medical help anyway. After that, if the person isn’t allergic to aspirin, make him swallow the tablet because that will prevent blood clots.
When you suspect that someone may be suffering from a cardiac arrest, performing immediate CPR can be life-saving. Here are some quick pointers on how to do CPR on an unresponsive person. However, if you have no prior training on how you can do CPR, try to look for someone who does, and let them do this instead of doing it yourself.
Step 1: Call for an ambulance
The first thing that you should do before administering CPR is to call for an ambulance so that trained medical personnel will be arriving as soon as possible at your location.
Step 2: Place the person on their back and try to open their airways
The next thing you’ll have to do is gently place the person on their back. You can kneel down next to their chest, and tilt their head backwards. This can be done by lifting their chin. Once you do this, open their mouth, and check the airways for any obstruction, such as food, or vomit. If there are no obstructions, you can proceed with CPR. However, if there are any obstructions, take a look and see if they’re loose. If they’re loose, remove the obstruction and proceed with CPR. However, if the obstruction is not loose, do not try to remove it, as you may end up pushing the obstruction farther into the airways
Step 3: Check for breathing
To check for breathing, place your ear next to the person’s mouth and listen for a few seconds. If you don’t hear breathing or hear laboured gasps, you can proceed with CPR.
Step 4: Perform rescue breaths and chest compressions
With the person’s head tilted backwards, place your mouth over theirs and breathe into their mouth. If the person is still not responding, you can move ahead to chest compressions.
Kneel next to the person, and place the heel of your hand on their sternum, which is the centre of the chest. This can be found between, and slightly below the person’s nipples. Press down in this area hard and fast, about two inches deep (for an adult).
Once you perform 30 compressions, give two more rescue breaths, and repeat. You can repeat this process till the person starts responding, or until medical professionals arrive.
If you are not sure about giving rescue breaths, you can also provide hands-only compressions at the rate of 100-120 compressions/minute without any rescue breaths.
You will have to continue delivering the CPR when you suspect cardiac arrest until the medics come and take over or the person shows signs of breathing. In case you feel exhausted, at least try to complete the cycle before stopping.
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In the case of cardiac arrest or heart attack, immediate medical attention is of utmost importance. EVERY MINUTE MATTERS. There are varied treatment options available for cardiac arrest and heart attack.
What are the Surgery and Medical Procedures for acute myocardial infarction?
Coronary angioplasty and stenting, and coronary artery bypass surgery are the two surgical procedures used in case of a heart attack. In the former, a balloon and a stent are used to open up the blockage causing the heart attack. A bypass surgery, on the other hand, might be performed a few days after the attack to prevent further recurrences.
There are several medications that can help to avoid complications of myocardial infarction and provide a better outlook. Self-medication should never be an option at any point in time. You must consult your doctor to understand which medications are best suited for you, as they are prescribed based on your age, underlying condition and severity of your heart attack.
Most healthcare centers and hospitals have programs that start while you are admitted there and go on for weeks or months after your discharge from the place. Such programs usually focus on four aspects of recovery – medications, emotional issues, lifestyle modifications, and a slow return to normal activities.
What are the Surgery and Medical Procedures for cardiac arrest?
The most important and basic treatment for cardiac arrest is to offer CPR until the person regains consciousness. After the medical team arrives at the scene, they might use defibrillation to bring back the normal rhythm of the heart.
At the emergency room, doctors try to stabilize the heart rhythm to get it back to normal. After considering the patient’s medical history, they might use certain medications to stabilize the heart rhythm. It is important to take these medications on time and follow the instructions and dosage as prescribed by the doctor.
Doctors might place an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator near the collarbone to pace up the heart in case of an abnormal rhythm. On a long-term basis, the patient will have to be on medications and adapt to several lifestyle changes.
Once you know and witness what is cardiac arrest or heart attack, it is natural for your outlook on life to change. Now, in case of a cardiac arrest, there might be some neurological damage or cognitive impairment, especially in out-of-hospital cases, which might lead to limitations in regular activities, social participation, and a decreased quality of life.
People have a greater chance of returning back to their normal lives after a heart attack. However, in both cardiac arrest and heart attack, there have to be major lifestyle changes made after the event.
In order to prepare for relapse, it is important to make sure the emergency numbers and the necessary medications are kept near at hand at all times. Treatment and rest based on the guidelines given by the doctor give the patients a chance to alleviate the symptoms and prevent any relapse.
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Apart from getting the right myocardial infarction treatments, there are a few ways to prevent heart attacks.
Here are the top four things to remember to keep your heart healthy:
Avoid smoking altogether because it tends to create arterial blockages. Also, avoid being near secondhand smoke as much as possible.
Control your cholesterol levels, blood sugar and blood pressure levels by making the necessary changes to your diet and taking daily medications.
Get a grip on the rising stress in everyday activities. Look for healthy ways to minimize and deal with stress in your life.
If you cannot avoid alcohol completely, limit your intake to two drinks (for men) or one drink (for women) per day.
In cardiac arrest and heart attack situations, a healthy diet that contains heart-healthy foods and regular exercise can work wonders.
Here are the five things that make up a heart healthy diet:
Fruits and veggies (fresh fruits and veggies or green smoothies)
Whole grains (brown rice, buckwheat, oatmeal)
Healthy fats (olive oils, avocados, nuts)
Low-fat proteins (eggs, fish, paneer, soya chunks, yoghourt legumes, skinless poultry)
Low sodium, low sugar food
Exercising is important in order to improve your heart health after a cardiac arrest and heart attack. However, you cannot overexert yourself after a heart attack. So, it is better to stick to aerobic activities instead of weightlifting. You can try the following exercises for heart patients for at least thirty minutes daily:
Walking
Jogging
Swimming
Yoga
Biking
You can increase the duration of these exercises after your body adjusts to the thirty-minutes routine.
The myocardial infarction risk factors like high blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol show no early symptoms. You need regular checkups with your doctor to manage them and prevent the chances of a relapse. A cardiologist will suggest the necessary changes to your diet, medication, and lifestyle.
What helped Shyamalan cope with his heart attack:
Hopefully, this comprehensive has cleared up cardiac arrest vs heart attack confusion for you. It is worth noting that even after experiencing a heart attack, people go on to live long, fulfilling lives. It is important to stay optimistic and develop a positive attitude towards your well-being. Furthermore, strict adherence to your treatment plan, following the diet chart for heart patients, and adopting lifestyle modifications can contribute a great deal to a better outlook and a healthier life.
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There might be some neurological damage or cognitive impairment after a heart attack, which might lead to limitations in regular activities and a decreased quality of life.
One of the first things you need to do is call for emergency medical help before starting CPR.
Inherited cardiac risk factors might increase the chances of a heart attack in some individuals.
In general, 45 or older for men and 55 or older for women is the most common age for a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
The necessary dietary and lifestyle changes, along with regular health monitoring, can keep your heart healthy and reduce the chances of heart diseases.
Outside of a hospital, the survival rate of a cardiac arrest is 12 percent. It greatly depends on how quick medical aid has been given to the patient.
Extending the first aid through making the patient rest and relax, calling for an ambulance giving any prescribed emergency pills (if the patient carries for sublingual route). CPR and defibrillation in the right way can save the life of a person in the case of a cardiac arrest.
You cannot permanently reverse heart damage caused by a heart attack. However, you can manage your heart health and address some of the damage through cardiac rehabilitation.
Most people go on to live a full and healthy life after a heart attack, provided they follow the doctor’s advice.
Chest pain, breathing problems, upper body discomfort, nausea, cold sweats and lightheadedness are the signs of a heart attack. There are no other ways to test for it at home, so you must consult a doctor at the earliest.
Red meat, processed food, unhealthy fats, high salt content, pickles and added sugars are to be avoided to keep your heart healthy. Diet plan greatly varies based on your individual health needs and dietary choices. You should consult a registered nutritionist to plan your diet.
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