A heart attack and cardiac arrest are NOT the same thing. Informative if you aren't aware.

I am not trying to be "that person" but I think it is important to know the difference between the two.

A cardiac arrest is when your heart stops beating and of course you aren't breathing. It is common to see people who are in cardiac arrest "struggle" to breath. This is called agonal respiration. It is similar to a fish out of water.

"Cardiac arrest results from electrical disturbances that cause the heart to suddenly stop beating properly. In cardiac arrest, death can result quickly if steps aren't taken immediately.
"
There are MANY things that can cause you to go into cardiac arrest:
-blunt force trauma to the chest
-heart attack
-brain trauma
-asphixiation
-imbalance of electrolytes
-hypovolemia (not enough blood volume in the body for heart to pump)
-respiratory related issues

The list can go on. EVERYONE ends up in cardiac arrest no matter the age. Everyone since the beginning of time. What matters is the CAUSE of the arrest.

CPR means you are trying to resuscitate the patient to get their heart to start. Unlike in the movies, you do NOT shock every patient in cardiac arrest. (Asytole- lack of any cardiac electrical activity ) Aystole aka "flat line"

PEA(pulsesless electrical activity) are the two cardiac arrest rhythms that are not shockable.

A traumatic arrest (caused by trauma) is almost NEVER survivable even if you are on the operating room table.

A heart attack aka a myocardial infarction.

Heart attack: An occlusion due to a clot or plaque that blocks a blood vessel in the heart. It causes the heart muscle to "infarct: aka die.

Some people will not have symptoms and simply go into cardiac arrest depending on where the heart attack is occurring in the heart.

A heart attack is NOT always fatal. Symptoms include:
chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain in women over 45, moist skin, pain in between shoulder blades, sense of impending doom,dizziness.

The cure for a heart attack is a cath lab and patient's typically have to take aspirin, nitro. Doctors may prescribe a blood thinner to help reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Not everyone who has a heart attack needs CPR!

Sorry for the long thread. I hope I didn't forget anything. Just wanted to inform the people on GLP who aren't aware of the difference!



Last Edited by CigarTigher on 01/05/2023 02:09 PM