Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Key Differences Everyone Should Know

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Understanding the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack

Key highlights or summary

  • Cardiac arrest results from an electrical malfunction, while a heart attack stems from blocked blood flow to the heart.
  • Sudden collapse, no pulse, loss of consciousness, and abnormal gasping are key indicators of cardiac arrest.
  • Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and radiating pain to arms, neck, or back are common signs of a heart attack.
  • Cardiac arrest requires immediate CPR and defibrillation, while heart attacks are managed through medications or procedures like angioplasty.
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing risk factors like high cholesterol and smoking, and recognizing early symptoms can help prevent these life-threatening conditions.

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Frequently asked questions

 A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of the heart muscle is blocked, typically due to a blood clot. This blockage causes oxygen deprivation, which can damage the heart muscle.

Preventing a heart attack involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, managing stress, avoiding smoking, and controlling risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension.

Cardiac arrest occurs due to an electrical malfunction in the heart, often triggered by arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation. Other causes include heart disease, electrolyte imbalances, severe trauma, or drug overdose.

Preventing cardiac arrest involves regular check-ups, managing heart conditions, avoiding smoking, staying physically active, maintaining a heart-healthy diet, and treating conditions like arrhythmias or electrolyte imbalances.

To avoid cardiac arrest, adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle: stay active, eat a balanced diet, quit smoking, and manage stress. Early treatment of conditions like arrhythmias or heart disease is also critical.

Cardiac arrest is a sudden electrical failure where the heart stops beating, while a heart attack is caused by a blockage in the arteries.

Cardiac arrest symptoms include sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, no pulse, and abnormal gasping. Immediate treatment involves CPR and defibrillation to restore the heart’s rhythm.