What is Difference between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?

The difference between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest is the first thing to understand is that our vital organ functions as a muscle. Its responsibility is to pump the blood throughout our body, distributing oxygen and nutrients to the cells throughout the body.

If at any time our heart stops pumping it is said that there has been a cardiac or cardiorespiratory arrest (the latter occurs when the lungs stop working too).

As explained by Dr. Nieca Goldberg, spokesman for the Association of Cardiology of the United States, “Sudden cardiac death is an electrolyte problem, in which the rhythm of your heart accelerates and becomes irregular. Then, your heart cannot pump blood effectively and that is why suddenly you collapse. “

On the other hand, a heart attack (or heart attack) is completely different. In this case, the heart continues to beat, but the blood cannot reach it (or a part thereof) because there are one or several blood vessels (coronary arteries) that have become blocked. When this blood does not arrive, the heart attack occurs, which permanently damages the organ. According to Goldberg: “People who are at risk of having a heart attack are those who have a family history of this disease, as well as high levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, suffering from diabetes, who do not exercise and who smoke.” Difference between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest

A heart attack, if severe, can cause cardiac arrest, but vice versa it is impossible to occur.

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