Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: What Are the Differences?

Let’s have a heart-to-heart chat about something really important — our heart health. Many of us find ourselves bewildered when faced with terms like “heart attack” and “cardiac arrest.” However, understanding the ins and outs of these medical conditions can be a lifesaver.

Keep reading as we explore these two cardiac conditions, focusing on their differences and the importance of early intervention by going for regular heart screening in Singapore. 

Heart Attack: A Slow Buildup

Imagine your heart as a busy highway, with blood flowing through arteries like cars on the road. But when a heart attack strikes, it is like a sudden roadblock — a clot or blockage obstructing the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. This lack of oxygen can cause serious damage to the heart muscle.

Unlike the suddenness of cardiac arrest, a heart attack is more gradual. Symptoms can start off mild and worsen over time — you might feel some discomfort or pressure in your chest, or experience shortness of breath, nausea, or fatigue. These warning signs can persist for hours, days, or even weeks before the actual heart attack occurs. 

Learn more: How to Know if You are Having a Silent Heart Attack

If left untreated, a heart attack can still be life-threatening, leading to complications like heart failure or even death. That is why seeking prompt help by seeing a heart doctor is so important. 

Cardiac Arrest: The Sudden Stop

On the other hand, a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart goes into a dangerous heart rhythm before it stops and this can take place within minutes to seconds. It can happen in response to a heart attack, but it can also strike out of the blue, especially in people with genetic heart conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

When cardiac arrest hits, it is a race against time to get the heart pumping again. Without immediate treatment such as CPR within eight minutes, the risk of death escalates significantly. Even more alarming, brain damage can set in as soon as five minutes after the heart stops beating.

The Connection

A heart attack can increase your chances of having a cardiac arrest, and sometimes, cardiac arrest can follow a heart attack or happen during recovery. This is a vicious cycle that we need to break and thankfully, it is not all doom and gloom. 

Regular heart screenings are a form of preventive maintenance to catch problems early before they spiral out of control. If intervention is required, procedures like coronary angioplasty — a minimally invasive technique aimed at widening narrowed or blocked arteries — can help to reduce the chances of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest.

Learn more: All You Need To Know About Coronary Angioplasty

Knowing the Signs Can Save Lives

While both conditions involve the heart, they come with vastly different symptoms and require different treatments. Whether it is a slow buildup of symptoms like chest discomfort or a sudden, unexpected collapse, knowing what to look out for can make all the difference. So, let’s spread the word, empower each other with knowledge, and take proactive steps to keep our hearts ticking. 

Dr Leslie Tay is dedicated to helping each and every patient achieve optimal heart health.

Get in touch with us to find out more.