Know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. Characteristics Heart Attack Cardiac Arrest 65 (men) : 72 (women) (less likely Mid-60s (occurs in all ages, al- Average Age to occur in people younger than 35 though frequency increases with years of age) increasing age) Male : Female 2 : 1 3 : 2 Incidence Rate Blockage or significant narrowing Cessation of mechanical activity of of a coronary artery, causing tissue Immediate Cause the heart, caused by a malfunction damage to an area of heart muscle in the heart’s electrical system due to lack of oxygen Patients may experience chest pain Some patients may experience or upper body discomfort, unusual palpitations, dizziness, chest pain Early warning fatigue, weakness, nausea, short- or shortness of breath momentarily symptoms ness of breath; symptoms may before loss of consciousness and occur days or weeks before. collapse. Loss of pulse, blood Heart attack may lead to cardiac Yes—in all cases pressure, consciousness arrest No, although gasping and agonal Breathing? Yes breaths may be mistaken for normal breathing. May be accompanied by Characterized by complete lack of Cardiac Rhythm arrhythmias that do not cause a heart rhythm or one incapable of loss of mechanical heart beats generating a mechanical heart beat Cardiac risk factors include coronary artery disease, cardio- myopathy, myocardial infarction, Coronary artery disease, congenital Risk Factors/ valvular heart disease, congenital abnormalities in vasculature of the Medical History heart disease, and genetic syn- myocardium dromes. Non-cardiac causes include electrolyte imbalance, severe blood loss, drug use, and drowning • Medication to dissolve blood clot, dilate coronary blood • CPR vessels, and provide chest pain • Defibrillation Treatment relief • ACLS • Coronary angioplasty and stent • Post-arrest care to open blocked artery • Post-infarction care NOTES: ACLS = advanced cardiac life support; CPR = cardiopulmonary resuscitation. SOURCE: Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival: A Time to Act (Institute of Medicine, 2015)..