Name -Urvashi Sharma
Designation – Teaching Assistant
Department – Department of Zoology
Email ID – urvashi.sharma@kalingauniversity.ac.in
Life- threatening conditions – Cardiac Arrest & Heart Attack.
Cardiac arrest and heart attack are related but distinct medical conditions involving the heart.
Cardiac Arrest:
Definition: Cardiac arrest refers to a sudden loss of heart function, causing the heart to stop beating effectively.
Cause: Cardiac arrest typically occurs due to an electrical problem in the heart, resulting in an irregular or chaotic heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.
Circulation: During cardiac arrest, blood circulation stops, and the person loses consciousness immediately.
Symptoms: The person may collapse suddenly, stop breathing, and have no pulse.
Urgency: Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction):
Definition: A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle, leading to a lack of blood flow and oxygen to a portion of the heart.
Cause: Most heart attacks happen due to a blood clot forming in a coronary artery, which is usually caused by atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup).
Circulation: While a heart attack can be a serious condition, it doesn’t immediately cause the heart to stop beating.
Symptoms: Symptoms of a heart attack may include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and pain radiating to the left arm, jaw, or back.
Urgency: Although a heart attack is a medical emergency, prompt medical attention is crucial to minimize heart damage. Treatment may involve medications, medical procedures (e.g., angioplasty, stenting), or surgery.
In
summary, cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function, leading to a
cessation of blood circulation, while a heart attack is caused by a blockage in
the coronary arteries, resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
Both conditions are serious and require immediate medical attention, but their
underlying causes and immediate consequences differ.
References
3.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-causes/syc-20350634
4.
https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/news/editorial/2023/05/05/15/17/heart-attack-vs-cardiac-arrest
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