Cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke are one of the most deadly things that can occur in the human body. Knowing the difference in them might save your life – or someone else’s.
While cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke are all similar and typically involve the same body parts, they are also quite different. You additionally have to respond to each one differently in the event of an emergency. For example, cardiac arrest is typically caused by an electrical malfunction in the heart, while a heart attack occurs when the blood flow is blocked off from the heart.
Cardiac Arrest – cardiac Arrest occurs when there is an electrical malfunction of the heart. It occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating randomly. The electrical impairment causes the heart to enter arrhythmia or an irregular beat. When this process is disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the vital organs, or anywhere for that matter.
If you suspect someone is entering cardiac arrest you should first call 911 as fast as you possibly can. Time is absolutely the lifeline in all of these health issues. After you call 911 start CPR right away. If an AED is available, use it.
Heart Attack – heart attacks happen when the blood flow to the heart is blocked. A blocked artery will prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the heart. The longer the artery is blocked the lower the chances of survival are. If a heart attack is extensively bad, but the patient still survives they will have a weak heart now. This is because when the artery was blocked the part of the heart it nourished began to die.
If you suspect that someone around you is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. They need to be transported to an emergency room immediately. EMS personnel are trained to revive someone who has entered a heart attack.
Stroke – A stroke is a “brain attack”. It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke get them to the hospital immediately. There really isn’t a whole lot you can do for a stroke victim other than keeping them conscious.