A person is suffering from excruciating pain in the chest. He may be suffering from a heart attack? Ummm, hang on, a Cardiac arrest perhaps! Does it matter? heart attack and cardiac arrest both mean the same, don't they?
Difference between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest is crucial to understand as it explains what to do in that scenario. In case of a heart attack, the flow of blood to the heart is interrupted making it stop beating slowly. However, a cardiac arrest makes the person collapse as their heart organ stops functioning.
What is the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest?
Heart attack:
This occurs in case there is a blockage in one of the coronary arteries in the heart.
Clotting of blood in the arteries prevent the smooth flow of blood through the heart muscle, causing an individual to pass away slowly.
Shock, hypothermia, drowning, etc. are a few reasons. for heart attack.
Individuals with unhealthy diet habits, less physical activity, smokers, etc. possess an increased threat of having a heart attack.
Weakness, anxiety, shortness of breath, chest pain are a few symptoms of a heart attack.
Cardiac arrest:
In this case, the heart stops beating all of a sudden. It can be caused due to
Here, the heart becomes unresponsive because of ventricular fibrillation, drug overdose, a clot in lungs, imbalance of minerals in the blood, etc.
Here, cardiac arrest may occur as a result of a heart attack. Notably, the other way around is not possible. This is a prominent cardiac arrest and heart attack difference.
Overweight individuals and the ones not doing exercise for a healthy lifestyle have increased chances of cardiac arrest.
Shortness of breath, drop in pulse, and unresponsive body are a few symptoms of cardiac arrest.
Despite the differences, both cardiac arrest and heart attack are severe conditions which can be life-threatening if not cured in time.
What are the symptoms of heart attack and cardiac arrest?
Heart attack:
Chest pain
Anxiety
Chest pain may spread to arms, neck, jaw, abdomen, and back.
Cough
Weakness
Dizziness
Palpitations
Shortness of breath
Cardiac arrest:
Shortness of breath.
No pulse to be found.
Affected person becomes unconscious or unresponsive.
What are the preventions for heart attack and cardiac arrest?
To prevent your risk of a heart attack:
Stop smoking and minimize your exposure to second hand smoke. Get your high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure under control by modifying your diet, losing weight, taking medication, or doing a combination of these things.
The precautions of Cardiac arrest are:
Eat healthy food for the heart.
Control your body weight.
Manage your body stress.
No use of smoking.
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