Heart attack vs. Cardiac
arrest
The terms heart attack and cardiac arrest are frequently used as synonyms, but they are unique conditions that should be understood distinctly.
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when an artery is blocked, preventing blood from flowing to the heart. The longer a person goes without treatment, the more likely that person is to develop dangerous complications.
A variety of symptoms may indicate an oncoming heart attack:
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when an artery is blocked, preventing blood from flowing to the heart. The longer a person goes without treatment, the more likely that person is to develop dangerous complications.
A variety of symptoms may indicate an oncoming heart attack:
- Chest pain or upper body pain
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Sweating, nausea or vomiting
Sometimes, the symptoms of a heart attack are sudden and intense. Other times, symptoms can start slowly and last days or weeks before the heart attack occurs. In some cases, a heart attack can increase your risk of going into cardiac arrest.
There are a number of risk factors for heart attack:
There are a number of risk factors for heart attack:
- Family history of heart disease
- Age (45 or older for men, 55 or older for women)
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol or triglyceride levels
- Diabetes
- Stress
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in the United States, occurs when there is an electrical malfunction that suddenly causes the heart to stop beating. Once a person’s heartbeat has stopped, pulse and blood flow cease, and the person loses consciousness. Immediate treatment is necessary to save someone undergoing cardiac arrest.
Many of the risk factors are the same for heart attacks and cardiac arrest. While heart attacks do not automatically lead to cardiac arrest, they can increase the risk and are often determined to be the root cause. Cardiac arrest can also result from congenital heart diseases and conditions that alter the heart’s rhythm, such as cardiomyopathy or arrhythmias. It is important to screen for these disorders to decrease the risk of cardiac arrest or other serious effects of heart disease.
If you think someone is having a heart attack or cardiac arrest, call 911 immediately.
Cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in the United States, occurs when there is an electrical malfunction that suddenly causes the heart to stop beating. Once a person’s heartbeat has stopped, pulse and blood flow cease, and the person loses consciousness. Immediate treatment is necessary to save someone undergoing cardiac arrest.
Many of the risk factors are the same for heart attacks and cardiac arrest. While heart attacks do not automatically lead to cardiac arrest, they can increase the risk and are often determined to be the root cause. Cardiac arrest can also result from congenital heart diseases and conditions that alter the heart’s rhythm, such as cardiomyopathy or arrhythmias. It is important to screen for these disorders to decrease the risk of cardiac arrest or other serious effects of heart disease.
If you think someone is having a heart attack or cardiac arrest, call 911 immediately.
TREATMENT LOCATIONS
Houston Methodist treats all types of arrhythmias at our convenient treatment locations across the city.
HOSPITALS
Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center
Texas Medical Center-Houston
6565 Fannin St.
Houston
Texas 77030
713.790.3311
Houston Methodist St. John Hospital
Clear Lake
18300 St. John Drive
Nassau Bay
Texas 77058
713.332.2539
Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital
San jacinto/ baytown
4401 Garth Rd.
Baytown,
Texas 77521
281.333.5503
Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital
Katy- West houston
701 S. Fry Road
Katy
Texas 77450
281.420.8600
Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston
6565 Fannin St.
Houston, TX 77030
713.790.3311
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
WillBrook - West Houston
18220 State Highway 249
Houston, Texas 77070
832.522.1000
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
SugarLand- SouthWestHouston
16655 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
281.274.7000
Houston Methodist West Hospital
18500 Katy Frwy.
Houston, TX 77094
832.522.1000