Sudden Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack

Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack

What's the difference?

People often use these terms loosely and without really understanding what they mean.

Cardiac Arrest

(Electrical)

A SCA is when the heart malfunctions and stops working. This could mean that the heart is doing 1 of 2 things. The heart could be fibrillating which means it stops beating and begins to quiver or it stops completely. Either of these will need to be treated with CPR and defibrillation as the heart is in SCA.

This is often referred to as an electrical problem.

1. VICTIM STOPS BREATHING AND CANNOT RESPOND

2. VICTIM BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY

3. CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THE HEART STOPS BEATING OR QUIVERS LIKE A JELLY

4. BEGIN CHEST COMPRESSIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN CONTINUE UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES

5. 999 CALL HANDLER WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE NEAREST AVAILABLE COMMUNITY DEFIB IF SOMEONE IS WITH YOU TO COLLECT

Heart Attack

(Circulation)

The best way to describe a heart attack (myocardial infarction) is to think about plumbing. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. This means the heart is still alive but struggling to work because something is blocking the arteries carrying the blood. This is often referred to as a circulation problem.

1. CRUSHING CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SWEATING

2. CAN BE SUDDEN, BUT ALSO BUILD OVER MINUTES TO HOURS

3. IS CAUSED BY A BLOCK IN THE CORONARY ARTERIES, USUALLY A CLOT

4. IF NOT ALLERGIC HAVE THE VICTIM CHEW AN ASPIRIN, IF THE PERSON HAS AN OXYGEN TANK, TURN IT ON AND TURN IT UP

5. TRY TO KEEP THE PERSON CALM UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

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