Heart Attack Vs Cardiac Arrest

Many people tend to confuse a heart attack with cardiac arrest, assuming they’re identical. But that is not the case. To grasp the distinction between the two, it is important to understand what happens in each of these situations, what causes them and how they can be treated.

What is a heart attack?

Think of a heart attack like a plumbing problem in the body. The heart needs a constant flow of oxygen-rich blood to function properly. This crucial supply is delivered by the coronary arteries, which act like pipes delivering oxygen and nutrients to the heart. If one of these arteries gets blocked (usually by a blood clot), the much-needed oxygen-rich blood cannot reach the heart muscle. Without swift resolution, the heart muscle could become damaged and begin to die.

What is cardiac arrest?

Now, think of cardiac arrest as an electrical problem in the body. Your heart has its own special electrical system, which controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. However, when this electrical system malfunctions, it can present in various ways, such as the heart beating too rapidly, too slowly, or in an irregular manner- collectively known as arrhythmias. Whilst some arrhythmias are harmless and short-lived, others can be more serious, potentially leading to a complete stop of the heartbeat, and causing cardiac arrest. It is similar to when a fuse blows, causing a sudden and complete power outage.

What are the causes?

Cardiac arrests have several potential causes.

These include:

• Ventricular fibrillation- an arrhythmia where the heart’s lower chambers beat irregularly.
• Ventricular tachycardia.
• Choking.
• Drowning.
• Electrocution.
• Hypothermia.
• Drug overdose
• Respiratory arrest.

Another main cause of cardiac arrest in adults is a heart attack. A person having a heart attack may develop a dangerous heart rhythm, leading to cardiac arrest. According to the British Heart Foundation, the majority of cardiac arrests in the UK are caused by heart attacks.

But what causes heart attacks?

There is one primary cause for heart attacks, and that is coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD, although common, it is a serious medical condition where the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked due to a build-up of fatty substances. There are several factors that can increase the risk of developing CHD and therefore a heart attack. These include:

• Being overweight or obese.
• Smoking.
• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol.
• Diabetes.
• Age.
• Family history.

What are the symptoms of cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest usually comes on suddenly, with no warning whatsoever. If someone is in cardiac arrest, they may collapse suddenly and become:

• Unconscious.
• Unresponsive.
• Not breathing or not breathing normally.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Unlike cardiac arrest, a heart attack is usually accompanied by warning signs, however, it is important to note that not everyone displays the same symptoms, or certain symptoms in the same way.

• Chest pain- the chest can feel like it is being pressed by a heavy object, and the pain can travel to the jaw, neck, arms and back. However, the pain may be less severe in women and may only feel like heartburn.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea.
• Feeling weak and/or dizzy.
• Cold sweat.
• Overwhelming feeling of anxiety.

How to treat cardiac arrest?

The most important thing to remember when treating an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is time as with every minute that the patient goes without defibrillation, their chance of survival decreases by 10%. But how do you treat a cardiac arrest?

• Make sure the situation is safe and there are no hazards.
• Shout for help.
• Check if they are responsive.
• Check for breathing.
• Call 999 immediately.
• Begin CPR.
• Use a defibrillator as soon as possible to reset the heart rhythm.
• Wait for emergency services to arrive.

For a more comprehensive understanding of what CPR is and how to perform it, take a look at our blog: What is good CPR & how to perform it?

How to treat a heart attack?

If not treated quickly, a heart attack can cause the heart muscle to begin to die causing irreversible damage and can even result in cardiac arrest.

• Call 999 immediately.
• Chew and swallow an aspirin, this can keep your blood from clotting and can prevent heart damage.
• Begin CPR if the person becomes unconscious.
• Use a defibrillator if the person is unconscious as they may be in cardiac arrest.
• Wait for the emergency services to arrive.

Summary:

To summarise, it is essential to recognise that a heart attack occurs when the coronary arteries become blocked and stops the blood supply to the heart, whereas a cardiac arrest occurs when an arrhythmia causes the heart to stop beating. There are multiple causes of cardiac arrest, including a heart attack, whilst the only main cause of a heart attack is CHD. In contrast, there are many symptoms and warning signs for a heart attack, whilst there is usually no warning before cardiac arrest, with the only symptoms being that the victim is unconscious, barely breathing and has no pulse. Treatment for the two emergencies is also drastically different, whilst cardiac arrest requires CPR and defibrillation to restart the heart, a heart attack requires you to chew and swallow an aspirin and wait for the ambulance.

Early defibrillation is the key to treating cardiac arrest, however, the chance of survival is completely reliant on how close the nearest defibrillator is. If you would like to help increase the chance of surviving cardiac arrest in the UK, please get in touch or have a look at our range of defibrillators that we stock in our shop, also you can find us on social media, on Facebook & Instagram.