Ask the doctor.
Question
My grandfather had a heart attack in his mid-70s, but survived and lived to be 93 years old. My father also had a heart condition, but he died of a heart attack on the age of just 67. What is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest? ?
Oh These two terms often confuse people as they’re sometimes used interchangeably. But a heart attack and cardiac arrest aren’t the identical thing.
A heart attack is a circulatory problem that happens when a blocked artery blocks blood flow to a part of the center muscle. If the artery isn’t reopened to revive blood flow, the center cells supplied by that artery begin to die. Symptoms include severe pain in the middle of the chest or upper body, shortness of breath, sweating and nausea. But the center continues to beat, and the servant stays awake.
In contrast, cardiac arrest is usually an electrical problem that causes the center to stop beating suddenly and unexpectedly. Electrical misfires cause the center's lower chambers (ventricles) to flutter or quiver, called ventricular fibrillation (v-fib). During a cardiac arrest, an individual suddenly collapses or becomes unconscious, often stops respiratory, and can’t be revived. Other symptoms may include irregular, strange gasping or choking sounds (generally known as labored respiratory) and muscle twitching.
Most heart attacks don’t trigger cardiac arrest. However, when a heart attack occurs, it is usually a heart attack. Sometimes, heart muscle deprived of oxygen during a heart attack triggers v-fib. Scar tissue from a heart attack can even damage the center, making it unable to pump efficiently. A weak heart is more susceptible to v-fib.
Because heart attacks are closely related to coronary artery disease (the first explanation for heart attacks), the underlying risks are largely the identical. These include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and a family history of early heart disease.
Other heart conditions that may predispose people to cardiac arrest include weak heart muscles (cardiomyopathy), heart valve problems, and inherited conditions that affect the center's electrical system, similar to long Q. T syndrome. The use of certain drugs also increases the chance, especially the use of medication similar to cocaine or amphetamines or the overuse of opioids or other pain medications.
Finally, the chance of heart attack increases barely during and half-hour after vigorous exercise, especially in people who find themselves out of form. But the chances during a single episode of exercise are estimated to be one in 1.5 million, far outweighing the general heart-protective advantages of exercise.
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