Written by Sonali Sethi.
Here at NCIAP, we believe that patient education is the foundation of a healthy community where individuals are empowered to make good choices.
As February is nationally recognized as National American Heart Month, we wanted to discuss two of the most common heart-related emergencies that occur in the U.S.: heart attack (also known as a ‘myocardial infarction’ or ‘cardiac attack’) and cardiac arrest.
Despite their high frequency, many people often confuse these terms. Knowing the difference between these acute heart events, as well as the proper action to take, can be key in helping save a loved one in an emergency.
Understanding the Difference
A heart attack results from a blockage in the artery that carries oxygen-rich blood to our heart. When the muscles in your heart do not get enough oxygen, they start to die, leading to the symptoms of heart attack (mentioned below). This is a circulation issue.
A cardiac arrest, on the other hand, occurs when your heart stops beating or beats irregularly, leading to sudden stop in oxygenated blood to your organs resulting in collapse. This is an electrical issue.
How They Develop
A heart attack can be caused by multiple reasons. The most common is due to a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart), leading to ‘clots’ that block the flow of blood.
A cardiac arrest often occurs from arrhythmias, which are irregular heart rhythms that overpower your normal heart rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation, or v-fib, is the most common cause of cardiac arrest, leading to a life-threatening emergency where the person can die within minutes.
Cardiac arrest can also happen from a heart attack itself, or from underlying heart diseases such as Coronary Heart Disease, or CAD.
Signs and Symptoms to Look For
Heart attack symptoms can vary in men vs women, so it’s important to know both when looking out for someone experiencing a cardiac event.
General heart attack symptoms:
- Chest pain, pressure or discomfort that lasts > 15 minutes
- Pain in the left arm
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Back, neck, arm, or jaw pain
- Dizziness
For women, heart attack symptoms may look a little different. Here are signs and symptoms to look out for women that indicate Heart attack symptoms:
- Dull pain in neck, jaw, back, or stomach
- Unusual fatigue
- Anxiety and sleep disturbance
- Nausea and vomiting
Cardiac arrest symptoms can come on suddenly. Certain signs, such as heart palpitations, dizziness, or chest pain/pressure, can signal a cardiac arrest is coming.
Cardiac arrest symptoms to look out for include:
- Gasping / abnormal breathing
- Sudden weakness
- Lack of pulse
- Sudden collapse due to loss of heart function
How to Respond
As a bystander, taking the right actions early on during a heart emergency can greatly improve the chance of one’s survival.
If you suspect a person is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately and help the person into a comfortable position to reduce effort on the heart. They can also chew an aspirin, a medicine used to reduce blood clotting. If they lose consciousness, start performing CPR and continue until emergency services arrive.
In the case of a suspected cardiac arrest, start treatment right away: call 911, begin CPR immediately, and, if accessible, use an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine until help arrives.
With cardiac arrest, it is crucial to begin CPR as soon as possible, as even five minutes without oxygen to the brain can lead to irreversible damage.
How NCIAP Can Help
Our team at NCIAP, including two cardiologists with over 40 years of experience, values empowering our patients through preventative strategies to manage heart health. Through regular wellness checks, blood pressure screening, and management of chronic diseases, our goal is to work alongside our patients to reduce the risk of these emergencies before they happen.
Contact a healthcare provider at NCIAP to learn how to take care of your heart today.