Many times we heard of the terms like heart attack, heart failure and cardiac arrest. But, we will know the exact differences between all of them. Heart is a muscular organ which pumps oxygen carrying blood to different organs of the body for their proper functioning.
Heart Attack
When the artery which supplies oxygen to the heart gets blocked, heart attack occurs. It happens mostly due to blockage by a blood clot .
Symptoms
- Pain in the chest
- Symptoms may start slowly and persist for hours, days, or weeks before the heart attack.
- Heart beats but, due to blockage, it will not receive enough oxygen rich blood.
- Shortness of breath
- Some people may feel tired for days or weeks before the heart attack.
- During the attack, you will experience a pain in the middle of chest which will radiate to the back and arms.
- Many people confuse it with stomach upset or indigestion.
Cardiac Arrest
Also known as sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating suddenly and it needs to be restarted. It is an electrical problem triggered by a disruption of the heart’s rhythm. When cardiac arrest happens, a heart attack is a common cause for it. Insufficient blood flow to brain and other organs is the cause behind cardiac arrest.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cardiac arrest include
- Dizziness
- Unconsciousness
- Shortness of breath.
Heart Failure
It occurs when the heart doesn’t pump sufficient blood and blood flows back and builds up fluid in the lungs and legs.
Symptoms
- Dry cough, especially when lying down
- Dizziness, fatigue or weakness
- Fluid buildup, usually in the legs, ankles and feet
- Increased urination at night
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing
- Bluish skin
- Feelings of anxiety, restlessness and suffocation
- Shortness of breath and lung congestion
Reference:
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/heart-attack-cardiac-arrest-and-heart-failure.html
