Sudden Cardiac Arrest Or Heart Attack: Know The Difference (NAPS)—A little knowledge can be a lifesaving thing. Too often, people use “sudden cardiac arrest” and “heart attack” inter- changeably, but they shouldn't. 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. A heart attack is a “circulation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem. Here are a few more facts it may be healthy to know: What is a Heart Attack? A heart attack occurs when a blocked artery keeps oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the Fast action can save lives: It’s a heart. If the blocked artery is not good idea to know what to do if reopened quickly, the part of the someone experiences a heart heart normally nourished by that attack or cardiac arrest. artery begins to die. The longer a person goes without treatment, the What to do: Heart Attack greater the damage. Symptoms of a Even if you’re not sure it’s a Healthy Ideas Fast action can save lives. It’s heart attack may be immediate and heart attack, don’t wait more than a good idea to know what to do if intense. More often, though, symp- five minutes to call 9-1-1 or other someone experiences a heart toms start slowly and persist for emergency response number. attack or cardiac arrest. You can hours, days or even weeks before Every minute matters. It’s best to learn how to help save a life at the heart attack. The heart usually call EMS to get to the emergency www.heart.org/CPR. does not stop beating during a room right away. Emergency med- heart attack. Symptoms can differ ical services staff can begin treat- in men and women. ment when they arrive—up to an What is Cardiac Arrest? hour sooner than if someone gets Sudden cardiac arrest often to the hospital by car. EMS staff occurs without warning. It’s trig- are also trained to revive someone gered by an electrical malfunction whose heart has stopped. Patients A little knowledge can be a life- in the heart that causes an irregu- with chest pain who arrive by saving thing. /// Sudden Cardiac lar heartbeat (arrhythmia). With ambulance may get faster treat- Arrest Or Heart Attack—Know its pumping action disrupted, the ment at the hospital, too. The Difference heart cannot send blood to the What to do: brain, lungs and other organs. Sec- Sudden Cardiac Arrest onds later, a person loses con- Cardiac arrest is reversible in sciousness and has no pulse. Death most victims if it’s treated within a occurs within minutes if the victim few minutes. First, call 9-1-1 for does not receive treatment. emergency medical services. Then What is the link? use an automated external defibril- These two distinct heart condi- lator (AED) if one is available. tions are linked. Sudden cardiac Begin CPR immediately and con- arrest can occur after a heart tinue until professional emergency attack or during recovery. Heart medical services arrive. If two peo- attacks increase the risk for sud- ple are available to help, one should den cardiac arrest. Most heart begin CPR immediately while the attacks do not lead to sudden car- other calls 9-1-1 and finds an AED. diac arrest but when sudden car- Sudden cardiac arrest is a lead- diac arrest occurs, heart attack is ing cause of death—nearly 360,000 a common cause. Other heart out-of-hospital cardiac arrests conditions may also disrupt the occur annually in the United heart’s rhythm and lead to sud- States. By performing immediate den cardiac arrest. These include CPR, you can double or even triple a thickened heart muscle (car- a victim's chance of survival. diomyopathy), heart failure, and Learn More arrhythmias, particularly ven- You can find further informa- tricular fibrillation and long QT tion about how to help save a life syndrome. with CPR at www.heart.org/CPR.