You Should Know The Differences Between A Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest And Stroke

Many people believe that cardiac arrest, stroke, and heart attack are one and the same thing.

But all these conditions differ in symptoms, background, and severity. It is important that you understand the difference between these three conditions, so as to know how to help a patient as well as to avert any of the conditions from becoming more severe.

Here’s a detailed explanation of each of the conditions below:

1. Heart Attack

This refers to a circulation disorder. Heart attack happens when the blood flow is blocked or deprived of oxygen, the blood doesn’t reach the heart muscle, and it can kill the organ if not treated promptly. It is important to know that the heart is still working, when someone suffers a heart attack.

 2. Cardiac Arrest

This condition is known as an ‘electrical’ disorder

Cardiac arrest is also called a cardio pulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest and indicates a sudden stop in effective and normal blood circulation due to failure of the heart to pumped blood.

When electrical activity in the heart is disrupted, tachycardia takes place and the flow stops moving through the body immediately. When this happens, the heart stops working completely.

3. Stroke

This is also known as a brain disorder. Strokes are divided into three types:

• Ischemic stroke- it happens when there is blockage of the artery that supply blood and oxygen to the brain.

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) — also familiar as a mini stroke; It happens when there is a short artery blood flow to the brain

• Hemorrhagic stroke- this represents a ruptured artery inside the brain

Heart Attack Symptoms:

Here are the most common symptoms that can indicate heart attacks.

• Chest pain (angina) — Often mistaken for indigestion, this burden inside the chest repeats every few minutes.
• Body pain- particularly in the back, neck, jaw, abdomen, and arms.
• Shortness of breath and wheezing.
• Coughing.
• Cold sweating.
• Nausea.
• Growing Anxiety.
• Dizziness and fatigue episodes.

These symptoms can be treated by medications and healthy diet.

Cardiac Arrest Symptoms:

Few minutes before cardiac arrest, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Fainting.
• Weakness.
• Blackout.
• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Extreme palpitation.

In certain cases, a person may also experience these symptoms:

• Loss of breath.
• Sudden collapse.
• Little or no responsiveness.
• Loss of pulse.

Cardiac arrests are deadly given that their symptoms occur rapidly and are largely lethal.

Stroke Symptoms:

• Disrupted speech.
• Nausea.
• Headaches and vomiting.
• Numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side.
• Excessive sweating.
• Mental confusion, distraction, forgetfulness of names and places,  and loss of concentration.
• Walking issues accompanied with dizziness.
• Blurred vision and double vision.
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Source: healthyfoodhouse