Some people often experience severe heart pain, and a mistake arises between a heart attack and a heart attack, and although they are related to the heart, the causes of their occurrence are different, their symptoms are also different, and their effect in the body. is different. Understanding the difference and knowing the differences between a heart attack and a heart attack is very important for the patient and the doctor, in order to start prompt treatment before the situation worsens and serious problems occur, the most serious of which is death.
what is a heart attack
A heart attack is a circulatory disorder that occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, and if the blood does not return to the heart, the muscles begin to die from lack of oxygen, causing a heart attack, since the heart continues beating.
what is a cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest is a disturbance in the electrical activity of the heart, which causes irregular heartbeat, sudden cessation of blood pumping, cardiac arrest, and the heart stops beating.
Symptoms of a heart attack
Symptoms of a heart attack can appear early and last for several days.
1- Sharp pain in the chest.
2- People often describe this as a heaviness or tightness in the middle of the chest that lasts a few minutes and then goes away and comes back.
3- Pain in the body, since the patient feels pain in the arms, especially in the left arm, neck, back and abdomen.
4- Difficulty breathing and coughing.
5- Cold sweats.
6- Vertigo, dizziness and nausea.
7- Increased anxiety and stress.
8- These symptoms increase when exposed to fatigue as a result of excessive effort from running, exercising and others.
Symptoms of a heart attack
Sometimes the symptoms of a heart attack are similar for the first few minutes to those of a heart attack.
1- Loss of consciousness and fainting.
2- Chest pain, accompanied by increased palpitations and difficulty breathing.
3- Loss of response.
4- Loss of breathing.
5- Loss of pulse.
6- General weakness, then sudden collapse.
Suddenly, these symptoms appear, leading to immediate death, and the occurrence of cardiac arrest is aggravated by previous exposure to a heart attack.
Causes of a heart attack
A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes so blocked or narrowed that blood flow is severely restricted or stopped. The coronary artery is the artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle.
Blockages in a coronary artery can occur if a blood clot blocks the flow of blood. It can also occur if too much cholesterol builds up in an artery to the point where circulation slows or stops altogether.
Diagnosis of a heart attack
A different set of tests is done to diagnose a heart attack. Your doctor will still want to know your symptoms and medical history, and then use an EKG to check how healthy your heart muscle is.
A blood test is also done to check for enzymes that indicate a heart attack. Your doctor may also perform a cardiac catheterization. This test involves guiding a long, flexible tube through a blood vessel to the heart to check for blockages.
How is a heart attack treated?
Sometimes treating the blockage responsible for a heart attack requires more than medications and lifestyle changes. In these cases, coronary artery bypass grafting (CAGB) or angioplasty with stenting may be necessary.
A person who has a heart attack can resume most of their previous activities, but this depends on the severity of the attack and how quickly they received treatment.
Prevention of a heart attack
Several strategies can help reduce your chances of having a heart attack, including:
Get cholesterol and blood pressure levels in a healthy range
Don’t smoke, drink or limit alcohol.
Maintain a healthy weight and eat a diet low in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium.
Control and maintain blood sugar level.
Exercise most, if not all, days of the week.