Heart is the most important organ of our body; By continuously pumping blood, it delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to every part of the body. This process also helps in removing waste substances like carbon dioxide from the body. Therefore, when the heart does not function properly, the entire body is adversely affected. People often consider heart attack and cardiac arrest to be the same thing. But, according to medical science, these are two different conditions. Although both can be fatal, there is a lot of difference in their root causes, symptoms and effects on the body. Therefore, today we will explain to you the main differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest, and also tell you which of the two is more dangerous.
What is heart attack?
A heart attack—medically known as ‘myocardial infarction’—occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This blockage is usually caused by the accumulation of cholesterol and fat. When blood cannot reach the heart muscle, that particular part of the heart gradually starts getting damaged. Moreover, if timely medical treatment is not received, the damage can be quite serious.
Common causes of heart attack
Common symptoms of a heart attack include feeling pressure or tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, extreme tiredness, cold sweats, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and pain in the jaw, neck, arms, or back. In many cases, heart attack symptoms may be mild or may emerge gradually over time. Therefore, ignoring these signs can be very dangerous.
What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is a sudden and extremely serious medical emergency, in which the heart suddenly stops beating. This condition arises due to some disturbance in the electrical system of the heart. When the heart stops beating properly, blood flow to vital organs like the brain and lungs stops completely. As a result, the person may instantly become unconscious, and may even stop breathing. Apart from this, if medical help is not received within a few minutes, this condition can prove fatal. Main differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest
Heart attack is a problem related to blood flow, in which blood cannot reach the heart. On the other hand, cardiac arrest is a problem in the electrical system of the heart, due to which the heart stops beating completely. According to experts, although both these conditions are medical emergencies, cardiac arrest is considered to be the more dangerous of the two. This is because the person becomes unconscious within a few minutes, and the heart may stop working completely. However, in the case of a heart attack, there may be some time for treatment after symptoms appear—but even in this case, even a slight delay can prove fatal.
