Cardiac arrest and a heart attack are both life-threatening situations that require immediate medical intervention. It’s common for people to use these terms interchangeably, but there are major differences between the two events. In a heart attack, a blockage prevents blood from reaching the heart. In cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops working. In other words, a heart attack is due to a lack of circulation, while cardiac arrest is due to an “electrical” malfunction.
About Heart Attacks
A heart attack is a medical event that usually occurs when a partial or complete blockage prevents enough blood from reaching the heart. It can also be caused by an artery spasm, a viral infection, or an artery tear.
Blood is filled with oxygen and other nutrients the heart needs to function properly. When any section of the heart is deprived of those nutrients, that section will begin to die, leading to damage that could be life-threatening.
The longer the heart goes without blood, the more severe the damage will become.
During a heart attack, the heart will continue to beat as sections of it develop damage and begin to die.
Heart attacks can develop slowly, or they can develop quickly, and patients can experience symptoms that range from mild to severe. It’s even possible to experience no symptoms in the early stages of a heart attack.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Common signs of heart attack in men include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Cold sweats
- Coughing or wheezing
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Onset chest pain
- Pain in the arm or shoulder
- Physical weakness
Common signs of heart attack in women include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Cold sweats
- Coughing or wheezing
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
- Onset chest pain
- Pain in the upper body
- Physical weakness
- Stomach Pain
What Are the Risk Factors That Can Lead to a Heart Attack?
There are a number of factors that can increase a person’s likelihood of experiencing a heart attack, including:
Age
As the body wears down with age, heart functions begin to change, and cardiovascular structures start to weaken, increasing the possibility of experiencing a heart attack. Men who are 45+ and women who are 55+ are more at risk.
Alcohol or Drug Use
Excessive alcohol consumption or the use of cocaine or amphetamines can increase the risk of experiencing an artery spasm, which can lead to a heart attack.
Family History
If a patient has a family history of heart attacks, they are more at risk of developing one themselves.
Health
Patients with health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, or certain autoimmune diseases are at an increased risk of a heart attack.
Lifestyle Choices
Patients who maintain a poor diet and do not get enough exercise increase their chances of having a heart attack.
Tobacco
Tobacco use, especially smoking, harms the heart and all the functions and structures of a person’s heart, increasing their chances of experiencing a heart attack.
About Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest is a sudden, immediate event where the heart’s electrical function stops working.
The heart beats as it contracts (systole phase) and relaxes (diastole phase) to pass blood in and out of the organ. It’s the cardiac conduction system, or the heart’s electrical system, that keeps the heart contracting and relaxing at a regular rate.
When the cardiac conduction system malfunctions, patients can develop arrhythmia, a condition that causes the patient to develop an irregular heartbeat, or they can experience cardiac arrest, where the heart stops beating altogether.
Developing arrhythmia can also increase your likelihood of experiencing cardiac arrest.
Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest is sudden and will cause a person to show signs like:
- Loss of consciousness
- No breathing
- No pulse
- Sudden collapse
In rare cases, a patient may show warning signs before the event, such as:
- Chest pain
- Breathing difficulties
- Physical weakness
- Rapid heart rate
What Can Cause Cardiac Arrest or a Conduction Disorder?
There are several reasons a patient may experience a cardiac conduction malfunction that leads to cardiac arrest, including:
Age
As we age, our bodies begin to wear down. For some, their conduction system can start to change, leading to malfunction.
Genetics
Conduction disorders can run in families. Certain genes or traits can increase a patient’s likelihood of developing a conduction malfunction.
Health
Patients with certain medical conditions like heart disease, sleep apnea, muscular dystrophy, Graves’ disease, sarcoidosis, and others can ultimately develop a conduction malfunction that results in cardiac arrest.
Medications
Some medications, particularly ones used to treat certain heart conditions or mental illnesses, can interfere with your normal heart rate and throw your conduction system off.
Sex
Men are at a higher risk of developing certain conduction disorders than women.
What to Do During a Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest
If you are with someone experiencing a heart attack or cardiac arrest, seek medical attention ASAP.
For Heart Attack Patients
Do not try to wait it out. Call 911, and do not attempt to drive yourself or the person you’re with to the hospital. Wait for EMTs who can provide emergency medical care en route to the hospital.
For Cardiac Arrest Patients
The following applies to those who are with someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
Call 911 immediately and begin performing CPR until responders arrive.
How to Perform CPR
- Lay the patient on the floor and flat on their back.
- Kneel beside them next to their chest.
- Put one hand on top of the other at the center of their chest with your shoulders directly over your hands and your elbows locked.
- Push down about two inches and release at about 100-120 compressions per minute. Pushing to the tune of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees, “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga, or “Dancing Queen” by ABBA can help you set the right rhythm.
- Open the patient’s airway by tilting the head back and gently opening their mouth.
- Give the patient two rescue breaths every 30 seconds:
- Pinch their nose shut.
- Take a normal breath and put your mouth completely over theirs so that no air can escape.
- Breathe into their mouth for one second and release.
- Check to make sure the chest lifts and falls. If it doesn’t, check to make sure the airway is open.
- Allow the air to exit before providing the second breath.
- Aim to keep breathing time between compressions to less than 10 seconds.
- Keep repeating 30 seconds of chest compressions and two breaths until responders arrive or until the patient revives.
Cardiac Arrests and Heart Attacks are scary, life-threatening events. To help you minimize your risk of experiencing either one, partner with the cardiologists at Middle Georgia Heart.
Our heart doctors offer information, advice, and medical solutions to help you stay heart-healthy. Our goal is to help patients minimize their chances of experiencing heart attacks, cardiac arrest, and other dangerous heart complications.
Are you ready to strengthen your heart and maximize your heart health? Schedule an appointment with our heart specialists today: 478-207-5224
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