Cardiac arrest is an electrical failure in the heart's natural pacemaker, which sends electrical signals, when these electrical signals suddenly deteriorate or stop altogether.

Difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest

Agnivesh Agarwal, son of Vedanta Group chief Anil Agarwal, has died in the United States. Aggarwal died of cardiac arrest at the age of 49. According to reports, Aggarwal was admitted to the hospital after a skiing accident in New York. While his condition was reportedly improving during treatment, he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

Following this incident, the discussion of heart attack and cardiac arrest has once again intensified. People often mistake a heart attack and cardiac arrest for the same condition, but in reality, the two are completely different conditions in the medical field. So, let's explain how cardiac arrest differs from a heart attack. 

What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is an electrical failure of the heart, which is the heart's natural pacemaker that sends electrical signals. When these electrical signals suddenly deteriorate or stop completely, the heart stops beating. In this case, a person may suddenly fall unconscious and even stop breathing. This is why it is also called sudden cardiac arrest.

How is cardiac arrest different from a heart attack?

The biggest difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest is that in a heart attack, the blood supply to the heart is blocked. This means the heart doesn't receive an adequate blood supply, but the heart continues to beat, and the patient often remains conscious. In cardiac arrest, the electrical impulses that drive the heart stop, causing the heart to stop completely. The patient becomes unconscious within seconds, and if immediate treatment is not received, the risk to life is very high.

Why does cardiac arrest occur?

According to doctors, cardiac arrest isn't always caused by pre-existing heart disease. It can also occur suddenly. Sometimes, cardiac arrest can be caused by an abnormal heartbeat, called an arrhythmia. Ventricular fibrillation, in which the lower part of the heart trembles instead of pumping blood, can also cause cardiac arrest. Diseases related to the heart muscle can also cause cardiac arrest. Apart from these, blockages in the heart's veins or long-standing coronary artery disease can also cause cardiac arrest. 

Why does the risk of cardiac arrest increase during recovery?

After a major accident or surgery, the body is already weakened. In such situations, blood loss, low oxygen levels, chest injuries, or excessive stress can affect the heart's electrical activity. This is why there is often a risk of cardiac arrest even during hospital treatment. Symptoms of cardiac arrest may include sudden dizziness or fainting, difficulty breathing, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and weakness.