How Do Symptoms and Causes Differ Between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?
It is often seen that people get confused between the two terms heart attack and cardiac arrest. However, they both are different conditions, and one must know the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest to identify the symptoms and take necessary preliminary measures for its treatment. 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.
Cardiac Arrest vs Heart Attack
To understand the difference between the two, you will have to look for the difference in symptoms between these two.
In case of a heart attack, these following symptoms are observed –
Chest pain
Anxiety
Chest pain may spread to arms, neck, jaw, abdomen, and back.
Cough
Weakness
Dizziness
Palpitations
Shortness of breath
In case of cardiac arrest, these following symptoms can be seen –
Shortness of breath.
No pulse to be found.
Affected person becomes unconscious or unresponsive.
Further, refer to the table drawn below to understand the difference between cardiac arrest and heart failure.
Difference Between Cardiac Arrest and Heart failure.
Despite the differences, both cardiac arrest and heart attack are severe conditions which can be life-threatening if not cured in time. In either situation, it is imperative to call help and seek emergency medical attention to treat the patient in order to save their life.
Multiple-choice questions
Choose an Appropriate Option Regarding The Cardiac Arrest.
a) The heart stopped beating.
b) The heart has not stopped beating and is beating very slowly.
c) Heartbeat is regular.
d) Irregular heartbeat.
Ans: a
Choose The Right Option Whichever is True Regarding Cardiac Arrest
The heart has stopped functioning or beating.
There is some electrical malfunction in the deceased heart.
It can lead to the death of the affected individual.
All of the above
Ans: d
You must know the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest so that you can differentiate between their symptoms and seek the necessary treatment immediately. Besides, learning this also helps you progress in your academic ventures.
Now you can also download our Vedantu app and improve your academic performance significantly. You can refer to the quality notes prepared by our expert tutors and ensure to excel in your performance.
FAQs on Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: What’s the Difference?
1. What is the core difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
The fundamental difference lies in the cause. A heart attack is a 'circulation' problem where blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, causing tissue to die. In contrast, a cardiac arrest is an 'electrical' problem where the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing it to stop beating suddenly and unexpectedly. A person is typically conscious during a heart attack but loses consciousness immediately during a cardiac arrest.
2. Which condition is more immediately life-threatening: a heart attack or a cardiac arrest?
A cardiac arrest is more immediately life-threatening. This is because the heart stops pumping blood to the brain, lungs, and other organs. Without immediate intervention like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), death can occur in minutes. While a heart attack is a serious medical emergency, it can sometimes be a precursor to cardiac arrest, but the heart is still beating.
3. How do the symptoms of a heart attack and cardiac arrest differ?
The symptoms are distinct because they arise from different issues:
Heart Attack Symptoms: The person remains conscious and may experience chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, pain radiating to the left arm, back, neck, or jaw, and nausea. These signs can develop slowly over hours or even days.
Cardiac Arrest Symptoms: The onset is sudden and drastic. The person will collapse, become unresponsive, stop breathing or gasp for air, and will not have a pulse.
4. How can a heart attack, which is a circulation problem, lead to a cardiac arrest?
A heart attack can be a direct trigger for cardiac arrest. When a part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygenated blood during a heart attack, it can become damaged and electrically unstable. This instability can disrupt the heart's normal electrical rhythm, leading to a chaotic rhythm like ventricular fibrillation. This abnormal electrical activity is what causes the heart to stop pumping effectively, resulting in a cardiac arrest.
5. Is the term 'myocardial infarction' the same as a heart attack or cardiac arrest?
Myocardial infarction is the clinical term for a heart attack. The name breaks down as 'myo' (muscle), 'cardial' (heart), and 'infarction' (tissue death due to lack of oxygen). It specifically describes the damage to the heart muscle from a blocked artery and is not the same as a cardiac arrest, which refers to the cessation of the heartbeat.
6. What biological factors cause the heart's electrical system to fail during a cardiac arrest?
A cardiac arrest stems from a malfunction in the heart's electrical conduction system. It is often caused by life-threatening arrhythmias, with ventricular fibrillation (VF) being the most common. In VF, the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) quiver erratically instead of pumping blood. This can be triggered by severe coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), congenital heart defects, or inherited disorders that affect the ion channels responsible for the heart's electrical impulses.
7. Can a person survive a cardiac arrest?
Yes, a person can survive a cardiac arrest, but survival is extremely time-sensitive and depends on receiving immediate medical attention. The key interventions are early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator (AED). CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain, while the AED can deliver an electrical shock to restore a normal heart rhythm. Every minute without these interventions significantly reduces the chance of survival.
8. Why is it important for students to understand the difference between these two conditions?
Understanding the difference is crucial for both academic knowledge and real-world application. From a biological perspective, it clarifies two distinct dysfunctions of the circulatory system: a plumbing issue (heart attack) versus an electrical issue (cardiac arrest). In a practical sense, recognising the different signs can lead to the correct emergency response. For a heart attack victim who is conscious, the priority is getting them to a hospital. For a cardiac arrest victim who is unconscious and not breathing, the priority is to call for help and start CPR immediately.
