If you have ever searched “What is a heart attack” or “what is a cardiac arrest”, you are not alone. While both are life threatening, people often use these terms interchangeably but do not mean the same thing. Understanding the difference could help you save a life when every second counts.

Learning From “The Pitt”

HBO Max’s newest medical drama show “The Pitt” shows just how realistic and chaotic medical emergencies can be, including cardiac arrest and heart attacks. This show has received high marks from healthcare professionals for its accuracy, not only is it entertaining but provides a valuable reference for understanding life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest and heart attacks.

During a scene, a medical student was performing CPR to the beat of Bee Gees- Stayin Alive. Anyone who has taken a CPR course has heard of that as it is exactly as it should be done in real life. It is the ideal song for hitting 100-120 beats per minute which is required for great chest compression.  The Pitt portrays various cardiac arrest scenarios, including use of defibrillation and ECMO machine. Shows like this, is a reminder on how fast and wrong emergencies act. In real life, you don’t have a medical team and trauma room. You have bystanders, a phone, CPR, and hopefully an AED nearby.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack is also called acute myocardial infarction, specifically a blockage problem. This event happens when blood flow to the heart muscles is blocked usually by blood clots or plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. Without oxygen rich blood the section of heart muscle begins to die.

Here’s the key: A person is normally conscious and can talk, symptoms can unfold over minutes to hours and by early medical treatment, it can prevent serious damage.  Call 911 right away as the longer without treatment, the greater the damage will be. Visit Heart & Stroke website for heart attack symptoms.

What is a Cardiac Arrest?

It is often described as an electrical problem; it’s an electrical malfunction which causes the heart to suddenly stop beating effectively. The electrical system of the heart goes haywire which leads to irregular arrhythmia. You may ask yourself, “What is arrhythmia of the heart”?  Is a heart rhythm disorder by abnormal, irregular, too fast, to slow heartbeat.  This will prevent blood to pump to the brain and vital organs which stops the heart from pumping, blood pressure drops and the person collapses.

Unlike a heart attack, there isn’t minutes or hours, you only have seconds to minutes and the person cannot respond.  Without immediate interventions, death can be within minutes.  Did you know? Brian damage begins within 4-6 minutes and when defibrillation is delays, the survival rate reduces by 7-10%. Visit Heart & Stroke website for cardiac arrest symptoms.

Can One Lead to the Other?

It is important to know that heart attacks can trigger sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Someone who experiences a heart attack can quickly spiral into a cardiac arrest, performing high quality CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) near by is crucial to save someone’s life.

The bottom line: AED is not just helpful; it is essential for survival. These devices are game changer in emergency situations. Having these devices accessible in public spaces, workplaces, and homes can make all the difference between life and death.