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Q. My grandfather had a heart attack in his mid-70s, but he survived and lived until age 93. My father also had heart disease, but he died of cardiac arrest when he was just 67. What’s the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? A. These two terms often confuse people because they’re sometimes used interchangeably. But a heart attack and cardiac arrest are not the same thing. A heart attack is a circulation problem that happens when a blocked artery prevents blood flow to part of the heart muscle. If the artery isn’t reopened to restore blood flow, the heart cells supplied by that artery start to die. Symptoms include intense discomfort in the center of the chest or other parts of the upper body, breathlessness, sweating, and nausea. But the heart continues to beat, and the person remains awake. In contrast, cardiac arrest is most often an electrical problem that causes the heart to abruptly and unexpectedly stop beating. An electrical misfire causes the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) to flutter or quiver, known as ventricular fibrillation (v-fib). During cardiac arrest, a person suddenly collapses or faints, stops breathing normally, and can’t be roused. Other symptoms can include irregular, odd gasping or choking sounds (known as agonal breathing) and twitching muscles. Most heart attacks do not trigger cardiac arrest. However, when cardiac arrest does occur, a heart attack is often to blame. Sometimes, the oxygen-starved heart muscle triggers v-fib during a heart attack. Scar tissue from a heart attack can also damage the heart, leaving it unable to pump effectively. A weakened heart is more prone to v-fib. Because cardiac arrest is so closely tied to coronary artery disease (the root cause of heart attacks), the underlying risks are largely the same. These include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, and a family history of early heart disease. Other heart conditions that can predispose people to cardiac arrest include weak heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart valve problems, and inherited conditions that affect the heart’s electrical system, such as long QT syndrome. Some drug use increases risk as well, particularly using drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines or overdosing on opioids or other pain medications. Finally, the risk of cardiac arrest rises slightly during and for up to 30 minutes after strenuous exercise, especially in people who are out of shape. But the odds are estimated at one in 1.5 million during any one exercise episode, which is far outweighed by the overall heart-protecting benefits of exercise. — Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., M.P.H. Image: © Moyo Studio/Getty Images People often think that a heart attack is the same thing as a cardiac arrest. This, however, is not true. In order to understand the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest, it is first necessary to understand what happens in both of these processes. What is a heart attack?The heart is a muscle, and like all muscles it requires an oxygen-rich blood supply. This is provided to the heart by coronary arteries. A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage of the coronary arteries. This is often caused by a blood clot. Such a blockage, if not quickly resolved, can cause parts of heart muscle to begin to die. (1-3) What is a cardiac arrest?A cardiac arrest is different to a heart attack. In a cardiac arrest the heart actually stops beating; whereas in a heart attack the heart normally continues to beat even though the blood supply to the heart is disrupted. (4, 5) Symptoms of a heart attack and of cardiac arrestIn addition to the physiological mechanism being different, the symptoms of a heart attack and a cardiac arrest also vary. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
Symptoms of a cardiac arrest include:
The lack of pulse is caused by the heart actually stopping during a cardiac arrest. As a consequence of this, the organs of the body are deprived of blood – this can lead to death. (13) The following warning signs may also occur in the period before a cardiac arrest:
Causes of heart attacks and cardiac arrestsRelated Stories
Cardiac arrests have several potential causes. These include:
A cardiac arrest can also be caused by a heart attack. (5)In fact, according to the British Heart Foundation, the majority of cardiac arrests in the UK are caused by heart attacks. (18) A heart attack itself involves a cut off in the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. If a large enough portion of the heart is affected, then the heart may stop beating, i.e. a cardiac arrest may occur. (14) But what about heart attacks themselves? What causes them? Well, in contrast to cardiac arrests, heart attacks are generally caused by one main factor – coronary heart disease (CHD). (14) CHD is a condition that is generally caused by fatty deposits building up in the coronary arteries, which provide oxygenated blood to the heart. This is also known as atherosclerosis. (15 -17) Those most at risk of CHD include:
People with CHD may experience a heart attack if a plaque, (a raised patch on the artery wall) splits and causes a blood clot which in turn blocks the coronary artery. (17) SummaryIn summary, there is a difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart stops and thus causes a section of the heart muscle to begin to die; whereas a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating as a whole. There are various symptoms of a heart attack. In contrast, the main symptoms of a cardiac arrest are unconsciousness, lack of breathing and no pulse. Finally, there are many different causes of a cardiac arrest; whereas the main cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease. Further Reading
Last Updated: Jun 25, 2019  Written by April Cashin-GarbuttApril graduated with a first-class honours degree in Natural Sciences from Pembroke College, University of Cambridge. During her time as Editor-in-Chief, News-Medical (2012-2017), she kickstarted the content production process and helped to grow the website readership to over 60 million visitors per year. Through interviewing global thought leaders in medicine and life sciences, including Nobel laureates, April developed a passion for neuroscience and now works at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, located within UCL. CitationsPlease use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
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Which is more fatal cardiac arrest or heart attack?Cardiac arrests are much rarer than heart attacks, but they are much deadlier. There are half as many – roughly 400,000 – reported each year in the U.S. However, Yannopoulos says that roughly 90% of cardiac arrest patients die if not treated immediately.
Is cardiac arrest a heart attack?People often use these terms interchangeably, but they are not synonyms. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked, and sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly.
What are the 3 signs of cardiac arrest?Signs of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and drastic and include:. Sudden collapse.. No pulse.. No breathing.. Loss of consciousness.. Is cardiac arrest a quick death?Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating. When that happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If it is not treated, SCA usually causes death within minutes.
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Is a heart attack the same as cardiac arrest
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