Well, most of us are not aware of the cardiac arrest and heart attack we think that both are same, these two serious medical emergencies that the involve the heart but they are not the same. These two are life threatening, but they have different cause and symptoms and treatments. How to recognise the whether it’s a cardiac arrest or heart attack and to seek appropriate medical help.
The cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, which leads to a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent death. This can occur suddenly without any sign or symptoms.
Causes: The most common cause of cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Other causes include heart attack, drowning, electrocution, and severe electrolyte imbalances.
Symptoms: Sudden loss of responsiveness (the person does not respond to tapping on the shoulders or calling their name), absence of normal breathing or abnormal gasping for breath, loss of pulse
Treatment
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be started immediately to help maintain blood flow to the vital organs until emergency medical help arrives.
- Defibrillation, which delivers an electric shock to the heart, may be necessary to restore a normal heart rhythm.
The heart attack which is also known as a myocardial infarction, it usually occurs when blood flow to a part of heart is blocked, by a blood clot. Which leads to damage or death of the heart muscle. Its requires prompt treatment
Causes: The most common cause of a heart attack is coronary artery disease, which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked due to a buildup of plaque.
Symptoms: Chest pain or discomfort, which may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the centre or left side of the chest. Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath, nausea, light-headedness, or cold sweats.
Treatment
- Medications, such as clot-busting drugs, dissolve the clot and restore blood flow to the heart.
- Procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting, to open blocked arteries.
- Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and smoking cessation, reduce the risk of future heart attacks.
While both are different were as heart attack is caused by blockage in the blood vessels supplying the heart which leads to damage or death of the heart muscle. Whereas cardiac arrest is sudden loss of heart function which require immediate intervention to restore a normal heart beat.
-Rashmi Kumari
