What´s the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest? Good question!
First of all, if at some point our heart stops pumping blood through the body, therefore a cardiac arrest or cardiorespiratory arrest has occurred.
The cardiorespiratory arrest corresponds to an electrical problem of the heart by which it stops working and consequently the breathing and the conscience.
It is possible to survive a sudden cardiac arrest with a correct treatment: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a defibrillator or chest compressions can save a person’s life while emergency medical personnel arrive.
On the other hand, a heart attack is completely different. In this case the heart continues to beat, but the blood cannot reach it because there are one or more blood vessels blocked. When this blood doesn’t reach the heart, attack occurs, which permanently damages the organ. The obstruction of the blood vessels is usually caused by the patient’s genetics, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and/or sedentary lifestyle.
