Heart Attacks Vs Cardiac Arrest
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic say posts like this confuse heart attacks with cardiac arrest, which is the largest cause of natural death in the U.S.
Heart attacks occur when the “hearts oxygen supply gets cut off, which is usually caused by blockages in the cardiac arteries that feed the heart oxygen-rich blood,” the Cleveland Clinic says in an article addressing “cough CPR.”
“When you have a heart attack, tissue in the heart can die. However, your heart usually keeps on beating,” according to the clinic’s post. “During cardiac arrest, your heart can suddenly stop beating and serious irregularity in the heartbeat can cause this.”
Cough CPR is an effective way to maintain circulation for a minute or two following cardiac arrest, says Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist, in the post. However, its not useful in a patient with a heart attack.”
Deepak L. Bhatt, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said doctors sometimes ask their patients to cough if “arrhythmia particularly a slow heart rate occurs during a heart catheterization.”
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“Can coughing help in the event of a sudden, dangerous, abnormal heart rhythm? In theory, yes,” Bhatt wrote two years ago in a Harvard column addressing whether “cough CPR” works.
The bottom line is that cough CPR is not useful outside of a hospital setting, Nissen says in the Cleveland Clinic post.
Lower Your Body Temperature
If you can lower your body temperature, you increase your chance of surviving a heart attack. A quick way to decrease your body temperature is by placing a cool towel under your arms or on your wrist. Using ice packs is even better if you have a few available.
According to the American Heart Association, naturally lowering the temperature in this way decreases your risk of experiencing brain damage. It stops chemical reactions that can damage your organs when full oxygen flow resumes. Lowering your body temperature also helps regulate your heart rate and encourages steady breathing.
Look Out For Heart Attack Symptoms
If youve suffered a heart attack in the past, you have some idea of what it feels like. But if youve never had a heart attack before, you might be in the dark about what to expect.
There is a long list of symptoms associated with a heart attack that you should commit to memory. You should be at least a little concerned about the possibility of a heart attack if you notice any of these symptoms:
- Pressure, pain, or tightness in your chest that moves to your arms, neck, back, and even jaw
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
Its easy to mistake heart attack symptoms for something else. You could, of course, chalk something like indigestion up to the big meal you just ate.
Its better to be safe than sorry when it comes to heart attacks, though. Even if youre pretty sure youre only tired because you spent all morning working outside, you should still seek medical attention to be on the safe side.
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Can Stress Lead To A Heart Attack
Many people underestimate the impact that stress can have on the body, especially the heart.
Take a moment to view the American Heart Association video about what may seem like a typical morning family routine:
This portrayal may seem a little over the top, but many of us take pride in being able to accomplish a multitude of tasks and trying to be everything to everyone, impacting us emotionally and physically.
Although several traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity, affect women and men, other factors can play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women.
Specific heart disease risk factors specific to women include:
Research is ongoing in other heart disease risk factors in women.
Is heart disease something only older women should worry about?
Women of all ages should take heart disease seriously. Women under 65, and especially those with a family history of heart disease, need to pay close attention to heart disease risk factors.
What are the differences of heart disease symptoms in women?
Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain.
Mental stress may often trigger these symptoms, which could include:
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in one or both arms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unusual fatigue
Don’t wait until it’s too late
Topics in this Post
Perform Cpr If You Are Qualified
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one link in what the American Heart Association calls the “chain of survival.” The chain of survival is a series of actions that, when done in sequence, will give a person having a heart attack the best chance of survival.
In an emergency, the first link in the chain of survival is early access. This means activating the EMS system by calling 911 . The next link in the chain of survival is to do CPR until thereâs access to a defibrillator.
The most common cause of death from a heart attack in adults is a disturbance in the electrical rhythm of the heart called ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation can be treated, but it needs an electrical shock to the chest called defibrillation. If a defibrillator is not readily available, brain death will happen in less than 10 minutes.
One way of buying time until a defibrillator becomes available is to give artificial breathing and circulation with CPR. By giving a combination of manual chest compressions and artificial, or “mouth-to-mouth,” respiration, the rescuer can breathe for the other person and help circulate some of the blood throughout their body. Even without mouth-to-mouth, “hands-only” CPR can be very effective.
The earlier you give CPR to a person in cardiopulmonary arrest , the better the chance of resuscitation. By doing CPR, you keep oxygenated blood flowing to the heart and brain until a defibrillator becomes available.
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Prepare For First Responders
Once youve , get ready for first responders. Unlock your door and rest near it if possible. If you have a list of the medications that you currently take and allergies you have, get it ready, as well.
The easier it is to get inside your home and locate you, the better your chances are of surviving a heart attack. Plus, having your list of medications and allergies ensures you receive safe treatment that wont cause a reaction.
If you can, put your pets in another room and close the door. Dont over-exert yourself with this, however, as resting is essential.
First Few Hours Of A Heart Attack Are Critical
A heart attack can very quickly become deadly. The patient can have better outcomes of a heart attack if they arrive to the hospital before cardiac arrest. The longer a patient goes without treatment, the greater long-term damage can occur to the heart, causing parts of the heart muscle to die.
Treatment should be administered as soon as possible, along with unblocking arteries in order to prevent long-term damage and complications.
Your odds of survival depend on seeking immediate treatment, so recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack will prompt you to get help right away and prevent complications.
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
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Classic Heart Attack Symptoms
The classic symptom of a heart attack is pain in the chest, especially in the centre, that lasts for a few minutes and comes and goes. This discomfort may feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or an aching sensation. The pain can radiate into the neck, arms, back, jaw, or stomach. It can manifest as pain or a general discomfort.
Men often experience a heart attack as chest pain.
However, post-menopausal women and anyone who is diabetic are far less likely to experience chest pain.
Whatever your symptoms, you will probably feel extremely unwell and are likely to be pale, clammy and light headed listen to those symptoms and phone for help quickly.
Tips For Surviving A Heart Attack When Alone
Surviving a heart attack when you are home alone is possible, but you must know what to do.
Note: If you are reading this article because you believe you might be having a cardiac arrest, stop reading and call 911 right now.
According to research from the Centers for Disease Control, heart attacks kill someone every 40 seconds in the United States. This statistic makes it the leading cause of death, and many of those deaths happen when the person is alone.
If you consider the total number of heart attacks each year, nearly 735,000 in America, you will see that surviving a heart attack is possible. Receiving treatment right away is essential to reducing your risk of mortality, though. When you are alone, no one else is there to help you or call for emergency personnel.
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The Heart Of The Matter
According to the British Heart Foundation UK statistics, someone is taken to hospital with a heart attack every three minutes.
Many people will be on their own when they have a heart attack. It is vital to know how to help yourself if you are alone and think youre having a heart attack.
More than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK every year.
Angina is discomfort caused by heart muscle complaining due to a reduced blood supply as blood tries to force its way through a narrowed artery.
A heart attack is when the narrowed artery becomes blocked or ruptures and heart muscle begins to die because of the lack of blood supply.
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops being able to function adequately because of a heart attack or some other medical or trauma problem. The person will stop breathing and become unconscious. It necessary to give CPR, use a defibrillator and call an ambulance to give them a chance of recovery.
Experiencing A Medical Emergency Complete Care Can Help
If youre still unsure of what to do when someone is having a heart attack, Complete Care is here to help. Our emergency care facilities are open 24/7 and provide hospital-grade care to patients within minutes, not hours, with no appointment necessary and no surprise billing.
We have ER locations in both Texas and Colorado .
Visit your nearest Complete Care location today for quick, efficient, patient-centered care today.
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What Is A Heart Attack
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The muscle of a heart needs oxygen to work properly and survive. A heart attack happens when the blood fails to bring the necessary amount of oxygen to the heart.
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Several coronary arteries that work as the passageway for the blood flow to reach the heart can become internally narrowed from fat build-up, cholesterol, or other substances. All these substances are called plaque.
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When such plaque within an artery breaks, blood clots form around it and block the flow of blood, as a result, the heart muscle starves for oxygen, and eventually, a heart attack occurs.
How To Stop A Heart Attack
Overview
Many people worry about experiencing a heart attack in their lifetime, and with good reason: its estimated that an American has a heart attack every 40 seconds .
Even though a heart attack can be deadly, tens of thousands of Americans survive heart attacks every year.
Acting quickly when you suspect a heart attack is coming on can greatly improve your chances for survival.
Most of the time, heart attacks start slowly with just mild discomfort and pain, giving warning signs before they strike. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call 911 or ask someone to call 911 immediately.
These could be signs of a heart attack:
- Discomfort in the chest, especially the center, that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes. The discomfort may feel like heaviness, fullness, squeezing, or pain.
- Discomfort in the upper body parts such as the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. This may feel like pain or general discomfort.
- Shortness of breath. This may come with or without chest discomfort.
- Unusual sensations such as a cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, or dizziness. Women are more likely than men to experience these kinds of symptoms.
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When Should A Person Take Action
When surviving a heart attack alone, follow your instincts. If symptoms frighten you, get them evaluated quickly, Gregory said. Many of my patients who have survived heart attacks tell me that they just knew that something very bad was happening at the time and that they needed help, or even that they were having a heart attack.
Whats The Difference Between A Heart Attack And A Cardiac Arrest
A heart attack is a sudden interruption to the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. Its likely to cause chest pain and permanent damage to the heart. The heart is still sending blood around the body, and the person remains conscious and is still breathing.
A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Someone whos having a cardiac arrest will suddenly lose consciousness and will stop breathing – or stop breathing normally. Unless immediately treated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation , this always leads to death within minutes.
A person having a heart attack is at high risk of experiencing a cardiac arrest.
Both a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are life-threatening medical emergencies and require immediate medical help.
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When To Contact A Medical Professional
- Does not respond to you
- Is not breathing
Adults should take steps to control heart disease risk factors whenever possible.
- If you smoke, quit. Smoking more than doubles the chance of developing heart disease.
- Keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes in good control and follow your health care provider’s orders.
- Lose weight if obese or overweight.
- Get regular exercise to improve heart health.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. Limit saturated fats, red meat, and sugars. Increase your intake of chicken, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Your provider can help you tailor a diet specific to your needs.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. One drink a day is associated with reducing the rate of heart attacks, but two or more drinks a day can damage the heart and cause other medical problems.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack
It is important to know the symptoms of having a heart attack, so you know what to look for if you began to feel unwell. Signs of a heart attack may include:
- intense chest pain
- shortness of breath
- the feeling of pressure on the chest
Although rare, there may come a time in your life when you experience a life-threatening event. The more you know about what is happening to your body the better chance you have of saving yourself and knowing when to put yourself into the hands of a medical team. This article defines three major life threatening events, gives you their symptoms and suggests what to do in each situation ===> THIS May Save Your Life: The Difference Between A Heart Attack, Stroke And Cardiac Arrest
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How To Survive A Heart Attack When Alone
The first step to surviving a heart attack when alone involves the moment you experience symptoms related to a heart attack. You should avoid driving yourself to the hospital as there is a greater risk of injury if symptoms begin to worsen while you are driving. Call for an ambulance or call a family member or friend to drive you.
If you are around people whether family and friends or even out in public you should make those around you aware that you could be experiencing a heart attack, so that in case symptoms worsen someone may be able to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
While waiting for medical treatment, you should avoid any activity and rather sit or lay down and rest. You should stay calm, as anxiety can further increase your heart rate.
Another safety measure if you are experiencing a heart attack alone is to take aspirin or nitroglycerin. If it is safe for you to take aspirin, chew one tablet slowly. If youve been prescribed nitroglycerin, take one dose and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
Is Itor Isnt It
Heart attack symptoms vary widely among individuals and between men and women. The most common symptom is pain in the chest. It may feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or an aching sensation. The pain may radiate into the neck, arms, back, jaw, or stomach. A heart attack can start slowly and be mild, or come on suddenly and be intense. Some patients dont experience pain at all.
Men typically experience a heart attack as chest pain. While women may also have pain, theyre more likely to have one or more of these other symptoms:
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Fatigue
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
Dr. Applefeld says people often feel tired and fatigued during a heart attack, especially women and people with diabetes. Individuals who have terrible pain are likely to call 911 right away. However, he worries about individuals who have less severe or obvious symptoms. They often do not seek immediate medical attention and end up with more serious heart damage.
Anything that awakens you or that seems different, or if your symptoms are brought on by exertion, you should call your physician or go to the emergency room, Applefeld says.
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