Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest: What's the Difference?
Read the comparison below, or explore it visually. Create a visual lesson comparing heart attack and cardiac arrest using available credits or plan allowance.
A heart attack happens when a blocked coronary artery cuts off blood to part of the heart muscle, while cardiac arrest happens when an electrical fault makes the heart suddenly stop pumping blood. A heart attack is a circulation problem in which the person is usually awake; cardiac arrest causes collapse within seconds and death within minutes unless CPR and a defibrillator are used.
At a glance
| Heart Attack | Cardiac Arrest | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic problem | Blocked blood flow to heart muscle | Electrical fault stops effective pumping |
| Usual cause | Clot on a fatty plaque in a coronary artery | Chaotic rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation |
| Heart beating? | Usually keeps beating | No effective heartbeat or pulse |
| Person's state | Usually conscious, with chest pain | Collapses, unresponsive, not breathing normally |
| Emergency aid | Call an ambulance at once | Call an ambulance, start CPR, use a defibrillator |
Which should you use?
Suspect a heart attack when someone has crushing chest pain or pressure spreading to the arm, jaw or back, with sweating or breathlessness, and call emergency services immediately (112 in India).
Suspect cardiac arrest when someone suddenly collapses and is not breathing normally; bystanders should call for help, begin chest compressions and use an automated external defibrillator if one is nearby.