Introduction: Not All Heart Emergencies Are the Same
If someone suddenly collapses, takes a deep gasp or feels their chest, people commonly tell them, “This looks like they are having a heart attack.” But here is the problem: it could actually be cardiac arrest and the consequences are very different.
Both situations are serious heart conditions, but a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are not identical. They differ in cause, symptoms, treatment, and urgency. Knowing the symptoms and the right measures to take can determine the outcome of a health crisis.
Here, we will clearly show what makes banking and financial technology different, using everyday comparisons and easy explanations. If you are concerned about your heart, caring for someone else or simply look for new medical information, knowing the basics about heart attacks could be very important.
Let’s Start Here: The Core Difference
In the simplest terms:
- A heart attack is a circulation problem.
- A cardiac arrest is an electrical problem.
Here’s what that means:
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction):
A heart attack means the blood supply to part of the heart is blocked by a clot in a coronary artery. The heart is working, but the heart muscle isn’t receiving enough oxygen.
Cardiac Arrest:
Happens when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions. The body loses the ability to pump blood and the person collapses without breathing.
A heart attack can end in cardiac arrest, though these events are different.
Causes: What Triggers Each Condition?
Heart Attack Causes:
- Blockages in the arteries (resulting from plaque or a blood clot)
- Spasm of a coronary artery
- Severe coronary artery disease
- Less commonly, trauma, infection, or drug use
A heart attack builds up over a short period and symptoms might appear and disappear in that time. This is like oxygen being stopped from reaching your heart muscle.
Cardiac Arrest Causes:
- Arrhythmias (especially ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia)
- Severe heart attack
- Heart failure
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Sudden trauma or impact to the chest
- Drug overdose or severe blood loss
A person can suddenly experience cardiac arrest and it instantly leads to the heart failing to pump blood to the brain and body.
Symptoms: What Do You See and Feel?
Let’s break it down further by symptom.
Heart Attack Symptoms:
- The main chest discomfort is usually felt as pressure, squeezing or a feeling of tightness
- Pain spreading to arms, jaw, neck, or back
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue, especially in women
The person is conscious and able to communicate, but is obviously not feeling well.
Cardiac Arrest Symptoms:
- Sudden collapse
- Loss of consciousness
- No pulse
- No breathing or abnormal gasping
- Eyes rolled back or unresponsive
- The person will appear lifeless. It might seem like just a minute ago you were just talking to them and yet now they are not responsive. It happens that fast.
Onset: Gradual vs. Sudden
Heart attacks tend to build up over time. Symptoms might come and go. A lot of people simply think it’s heartburn or tiredness before understanding why it is different. You have a window of time to respond.
Cardiac arrest is instant. Everything seems normal with the person and the next, they suddenly lose consciousness. Quikchly act to keep brain damage or loss of life from occurring.
Emergency Response: What You Need to Do
During a Heart Attack:
- Call emergency services immediately. (In Singapore, dial 995.)
- Keep the person calm and seated or lying down.
- Loosen tight clothing.
- If the person is not allergic to aspirin and does not take blood thinners, then provide aspirin.
- Do NOT let them drive themselves to the hospital.
- Stay with them. Monitor their breathing and responsiveness.
Remember: heart attacks can worsen quickly. Time is muscle. Damage to the heart increases when there is no oxygen to the muscle for a long time.
During Cardiac Arrest:
- Call emergency services immediately.
- Start CPR. Use strong and rapid compressions in the middle of the chest (about 100–120 beats a minute).
- If an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is accessible, use it. These devices can restart the heart’s rhythm.
- Give CPR until someone arrives or the person starts to breathe and wake up.
- Cardiac arrest is a true “every second counts” emergency. The brain loses brain cells within 4–6 minutes when it does not have sufficient oxygen. Giving CPR soon after a collapse can increase the chances of survival for that person by up to three times.
Who’s at Risk?
Anyone can suffer a heart attack or cardiac arrest, though some things can raise the risk for them.
Heart Attack Risk Factors:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Family history of heart disease
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Stress
Cardiac Arrest Risk Factors:
- Previous heart attack
- Arrhythmias (like ventricular fibrillation)
- Heart failure
- Enlarged heart (cardiomyopathy)
- Congenital heart conditions
- Drug misuse (especially stimulants)
- Electrolyte abnormalities
One big difference? Younger and athletic people can have a cardiac arrest even when they have no previous symptoms. That’s why awareness and CPR training are so important.
Can One Lead to the Other?
Yes—a heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest.
Heart attack damage to enough heart tissue can disrupt the heart’s electrical rhythm, causing dangerous rhythms (such as ventricular fibrillation). Without pumping blood, the heart will stop working which then causes cardiac arrest.
Because of this, it’s very important to take action immediately during a heart attack. Administrating CPR sooner helps reduce the possible complications such as cardiac arrest.
Treatment and Recovery
Heart Attack Treatment:
- Medications (aspirin, blood thinners, beta blockers, etc.)
- Angioplasty and stenting to open blocked arteries
- Bypass surgery
- Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, quitting smoking)
Most people are able to resume healthy living when they get proper ongoing care.
Cardiac Arrest Treatment:
- Immediate CPR and defibrillation
- Hospital care to treat underlying cause
- Therapeutic hypothermia (cooling the body to protect the brain)
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for future prevention
Survival depends on how quickly the person received help. If there is no oxygen for the heart and brain for a longer time, the chances of reversible damage are lower.
Final Thoughts: Knowing the Difference Saves Lives
Many people mistakenly confuse cardiac arrest with a heart attack and it makes sense why. Both are terrifying. Both can strike suddenly. But the difference in response matters.
- Heart attack? Stay calm, give aspirin, call for help.
- Cardiac arrest? Call immediately, start CPR, use an AED.
Anyone in healthcare, at an office, at school or a parent can use this knowledge to save a life.
Don’t wait for tragedy to learn the difference.