What is the link between cardiac arrest and heart attack?
The link between cardiac arrest and heart attack
Let’s discuss the link between cardiac arrest and heart attack.
The terms ‘Heart attack’ and ‘Cardiac arrest’ are often used interchangeably. However, medically speaking, these two imply completely different heart conditions. A heart attack occurs when the circulation of blood to the heart is blocked. A cardiac arrest happens when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing it to beat chaotically — or to stop beating altogether.
A person who has had a heart attack is prone to have a cardiac arrest. During a heart attack, the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart are blocked. Thus, blood supply to a portion of the heart is cut off, which develops a dangerous heart rhythm, which leads to cardiac arrest – ie, the heart stops beating.
A heart attack does not always lead to a cardiac arrest, and not all cardiac arrests happen due to heart attacks!
Dr. Mahadevan Ramachandran, a cardiac surgeon with over 15 years of independent experience in the premier hospitals of Kerala. Currently working as Chief Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at the following hospitals:
Total Cardiac Care, Thiruvananthapuram
Cosmopolitan Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram,
Azeezia Medical College, Kollam
NIMS Medicity, Neyyantinkara
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