What is the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest?

In most cases, heart attacks and cardiac arrests are two different things.

There are some instances where the two can be confused with one another, such as when a person has a heart attack and then goes into cardiac arrest due to complications.

Heart Attacks: When the way blood flows in your heart is blocked by something, such as plaque buildup or blocked arteries that can cause damage to your heart muscle and stop it from beating properly.

Cardiac Arrest: When the way blood flows in your heart is stopped by something, such as an electrical malfunction or a lack of oxygen that can cause damage to your brain, lungs, and other organs.

Is There a Difference in Symptoms Between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?

Heart attack and cardiac arrest are two different medical conditions, but they can both lead to a number of symptoms. Having a heart attack often causes chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. Cardiac arrest usually triggers the same symptoms as a heart attack but also includes irregular heartbeats that lead to fainting or dizziness.

A study published by the American College of Cardiology found that some patients might not be treated properly for cardiac arrest because there is no difference in the symptoms between these two conditions. This study proves that more education is needed for doctors so they can treat people with the proper treatment depending on their specific condition.