Myths Surrounding Cardiac Arrest & Heart Attack
When it comes to matters of the heart, even the smallest problems can lead to bigger issues, which is why heart health is vital for our well-being. While people are mostly aware of the commonly used cardiovascular terms, sometimes few phrases are unknowingly misused in regular parlance. Two of the most misinterpreted phrases are “Heart Attack” & “Cardiac Arrest”.
The Myth: Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest are the same.
Fact: NO
In reality, heart attack and cardiac arrest are as different as oranges and lemons. They both belong to the same citrus category, however are two different plants. Similarly, heart attack and cardiac arrest are both related to our cardiovascular health, but physiologically their mechanism is totally different.
| How to know if it is a heart attack? | When do you call it a cardiac arrest? |
| A strong stifling sensation somewhere in the middle of your chest cavity. | It starts with a sudden pain in the heart, followed by lack of pulse and consciousness. |
| A pain that does not relieve by itself and keeps building even when you rest. | Blood circulation stops, oxygen does not reach all parts of the body, and affects breathing. |
| The process can be slow, lasting a few hours or sudden. | This is more sudden and often more fatal than a heart attack. |
As we know heart is a muscle, so it will react like every other muscle and stay healthy as long as there is proper circulation of blood and oxygen. But what if you get a cramp in this muscle, the heart will stiffen up and abruptly stop pumping blood, the entire body’s circulation will stop, oxygen will not circulate and eventually, the body will stop breathing. This situation is what we call in medical parlance a V-Fib. In such an event, always rush to the nearest hospital for emergency medical attention.
Either way, it is a critical medical emergency that will need immediate attention. So, when in doubt, it is always advisable to check up with your doctor.
The Myth: Cardiac Arrest is a medical term for Heart Attack.
Fact: NO
Interestingly, both are valid medical terms that signify two different heart conditions. Technically heart attacks are called MI or myocardial infarction.
Over time when bad cholesterol builds up and clogs the arteries, it leads to obstructing the passage of blood and oxygen into our heart. Due to this obstruction despite having healthy muscle strength, the heart does not receive oxygen-filled blood. Lack of supply over a short period of time triggers a chain reaction where the heart muscle starts dying. This is indicated by the pain and stifling sensation suggesting you seek help.
If ignored, gradually this leads to breathlessness and vascular spasms triggering a sudden cardiac arrest, where the heart stops pumping blood completely. Technically, this event is called cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest. Therefore, heart attack if not dealt with properly will lead to cardiac arrest, but not vice versa. So, both the terms clearly cannot be used interchangeably.
You Can Also Read: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Know the Key Differences & Signs
The Myth: Surviving a heart attack is tougher than surviving a cardiac arrest.
Fact: NO
First of all, congratulations if you are a survivor. It does not matter which side you experienced, at the end of the day you live to tell the tale and that is a job well done for us at healthcare.
Secondly, patient survival patterns are unique to each case and rehabilitation plays a big role in recovery.
| Recovery from heart attack | Recovery from cardiac arrest |
| Mild heart attacks might not need surgery. Severe cases need open-heart or bypass surgery (CABG) | It starts with a sudden pain in the heart, followed by lack of pulse and consciousness. |
| In case of surgery attention must be given to restore nerve health and ensure the surgical changes are well accepted by the body. | Blood circulation stops, oxygen does not reach all parts of the body, and affects breathing. |
| The process can be slow, lasting a few hours or sudden. | This is more sudden and often more fatal than a heart attack. |
If other complications exist, the same needs to be explored under proper medical advice.
| Common causes of a heart attack | Common causes of cardiac arrest |
| Lack of proper diet, increased bad cholesterol levels. | Heart attack from coronary heart disease (CHD) |
| Excessive consumption of alcohol, drugs or cigarettes. | Cardiomyopathy and genetic heart conditions. |
| Hypertension, high pressure and blood clotting. | Congenital heart disease or heart valve disease. |
| Stress, depression and lifestyle problems. | Arrhythmia and acute myocarditis (inflammation in heart muscle). |
Cardiac Arrest needs prompt attention to revive the heart muscle in time to keep the body’s
circulation intact. Since the body often suddenly collapses, survivors sometimes show the same
symptoms that a brain stroke survivor might have, such as partial paralysis. Since the heart’s pumping rhythm needs to be perfect to avoid cardiac arrest, specialists recommend regular checkups to check on symptoms like arrhythmia. Identifying the cause helps identify the path to recovery.
Those patients who are prescribed pacemakers need to be extra cautious regarding their heart
health. A simple pacemaker malfunction can also lead to cardiac arrest. Hence a routine check-up is of utmost importance.
To conclude, when it comes to healthcare, never rely on hearsay. Always consult a proper medical practitioner and seek their advice. If you have doubts about your heart health or concerns for someone you know, feel free to book a consultation today.
