Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
Home > Blog > Cardiology > Is Heart Attack Same As Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiology

Is Heart Attack Same As Cardiac Arrest?

by Narayana Health November 29, 2019
written by Narayana Health November 29, 2019
Is Heart Attack Same As Cardiac Arrest? | Narayana Health

The terms ‘cardiac arrest’ and ‘heart attack’ are often misconceived as the same thing and used interchangeably.  But these are 2 very different conditions. And understanding the basic difference between the two conditions can make all the difference while providing medical response and help in case of such an event.

To differentiate between the two in simple terms; a heart attack is a circulation problem while a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. Let’s explore both the conditions in detail.

What is a Heart Attack?

Heart attack, also referred to as myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, or coronary thrombosis, occurs when the blood flow to the heart is interrupted due to a clogged or a blocked artery. Because a part of your heart is deprived of sufficient blood and oxygen, the concerned tissues start to die.

The longer the heart attack, the more damage it does.

What is a Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest, also referred to as cardio-pulmonary arrest in medical terms, is when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood. A person, in absence of blood circulation, will collapse within a few minutes. They might even lose their pulse.

It can cause irregular breathing or no breathing at all, making the person unresponsive. It’s imperative to call for emergency services when a cardiac arrest occurs.

What causes a Heart Attack?

A heart attack is caused by a coronary heart disease, where the coronary arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart are blocked. It happens overtime due to the fatty material building up in the blood vessel. The fatty material can break off causing a blood clot.

When the clot gets clustered into the huge chunk, it can cut off the blood supply to the heart.

What causes a Cardiac Arrest?

In most cases, this fatal condition is caused by Ventricular Fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm).

Ventricular Fibrillation can be caused by:

  • Heart attack
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Acute myocarditis
  • Heart valve disease

Cardiac arrest can also be caused by electrocution, severe blood loss, drug overdose or drowning.

What are the signs of a Heart Attack?

Most common signs of a heart attack include:

  • Chest pain, burning feeling in your chest or heaviness
  • Problem in breathing
  • Pain in arms, neck, back, jaw
  • Nauseousness/vomiting
  • Perspiration
  • Feeling dizzy/light-headed

If you notice the above signs, call an ambulance immediately and keep calm until medical help arrives.

What are the signs of a Cardiac Arrest?

Unlike heart attack, there are no definite signs of a cardiac arrest.

If you notice someone breathing abnormally or not breathing at all; laying unconscious and unresponsive, call for an emergency. Performing a CPR can keep a person alive until the ambulance arrives.

Dr. Sunandan Sikdar, Consultant Cardiologist, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Barasat

blood flowbreathingcardiac arrestchest painCoronary Artery Diseaseheartheart attack
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp
previous post
Common Misconceptions about AIDS
next post
How to recognize AIDS

You may also like

Everything about Heart Bypass Surgery

January 2, 2021

Aortic Aneurysm: What Are the Different Types?

December 27, 2020

Aortic Aneurysm: Precautions to Take and Prevention

December 20, 2020

Importance of preventive check-ups for heart

November 3, 2020

All you need to know about resting heart...

October 27, 2020

10 Foods To Avoid For A Healthy Heart

October 21, 2020

10 best exercises to strengthen heart

October 19, 2020

10 Foods To Eat For Your Heart

October 19, 2020

Tricuspid Regurgitation (Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency)

September 30, 2020

Palpitations

September 29, 2020

About NH

Narayana Health

Narayana Health is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, and operates a network of hospitals across the country, with a particularly strong presence in the southern state of Karnataka and eastern India, as well as an emerging presence in northern, western and central India. Our first facility was established in Bengaluru with approximately 225 operational beds and we have since grown to 23 hospitals, 7 heart centres, 19 primary care facilities across India and an international hospital in the Cayman Islands.

Keep In Touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube Telegram

Tell us your Medical Query

[recaptcha]


Popular Posts

  • 1

    Coronavirus Testing – How to Test for Coronavirus? – Different Types of...

    March 13, 2020
  • 2

    Boosting your Immune System against Coronavirus: How to minimize the risk of infection?

    April 2, 2020
  • 3

    Know about proper usage, disposal and reuse of mask

    April 6, 2020
  • 4

    अल्सर क्या होता है?

    July 18, 2019

Categories

  • Aids (3)
  • Blood Pressure (4)
  • Bone marrow transplant (10)
  • Breast Cancer (28)
  • Cancer (28)
  • Cardiac Surgery (23)
  • Cardiology (106)
  • Coronavirus (93)
  • Dental Sciences (1)
  • Dermatology (7)
  • Diabetes (33)
  • E. N. T – Paediatric (5)
  • E. N. T. (3)
  • ECMO (1)
  • Endocrinology (3)
  • Gastroenterology (19)
  • General Health (31)
  • General Surgery (3)
  • Gynaecology (23)
  • Haematology (4)
  • Healthy Life (1)
  • heart (4)
  • Hepatology (11)
  • Infectious Diseases (2)
  • Kidney (5)
  • Liver (26)
  • medical oncology (1)
  • Mental Health (2)
  • Narayanahealth (222)
  • Nephrology (19)
  • Neurology (72)
  • Neurosurgery (23)
  • News (11)
  • NH services (6)
  • Nutrition and diet (9)
  • Oncology (61)
  • Organ Donation (1)
  • Orthopaedics (62)
  • Paediatric Cardiology (8)
  • Paediatric Surgery (3)
  • Paediatrics (48)
  • Pain & Palliative Care (3)
  • Pregancy (3)
  • Psychology (3)
  • Pulmonology (13)
  • Radiation Oncology (3)
  • Rheumatology (3)
  • Services (6)
  • Spine Surgery (17)
  • Stroke (4)
  • Swine Flu (1)
  • Transplant (1)
  • Urology (21)
  • Vascular Surgery (9)

Follow us

QUICK LINKS

Find a Doctor

Book an Appointment

Make an Enquiry

Feedback

Hospitals

Blogs

Privilege card

Heart Rhythm Disorder

NH CARES

Hernia

Lung Cancer

Brain Tumour

Liver Cancer

Heart Attack

Urinary Problems

Heart Transplant

Kidney Transplant

Bone Marrow Transplant

Pulmonary Hypertension

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery

Cardiology

Cardiac Surgery

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Orthopaedics

Robotic Surgery

Vascular Surgery

Nephrology

Radiation Oncology

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Academics

Clinical Research

NH Colleges

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

About Narayana Health

|

Stakeholder Relations

|

News & Media Relations

|

Awards and Accreditations

|

Leadership

|

Careers

|

CSR

|

Sitemap

© Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd | All rights reserved
NPPA Implant Pricing     Terms & Conditions     Privacy Policy     Disclaimer

Book Online Consultation