Heart Attack, Angina and Cardiac Arrest - What's the Difference?

Angina

Heart Attack

Cardiac Arrest

Angina (angina pectoris) is a 'miniature heart attack' caused by a short term blockage. Angina almost always occurs after strenuous exercise or periods of high stress for the victim.

The key difference between a heart attack and angina is that, angina should start to relieve very shortly after resting (a few minutes), whereas a heart attack will not relieve with rest.

A Heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked. Often, this blockage leads to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat or rhythm) that cause a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death. If the blockage is not treated within a few hours, the affected heart muscle will die and be replaced by scar tissue. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women all over the world.

image of heart attack diagram with the following labelled:
Clot stops flow of blood
Plaque buildup on vessel walls
Where the blockage occurs in the artery
Where the heart is affected

Cardiac arrest is different from (but may be caused by) a heart attack, where blood flow to the muscle of the heart is impaired, preventing delivery of oxygen to the body. Lack of oxygen to the brain causes loss of consciousness, which then results in abnormal or absent breathing.Brain injury is likely if cardiac arrest goes untreated for more than five minutes. For the best chance of survival and neurological recovery, immediate and decisive treatment is imperative.

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, in certain situations, is potentially reversible if treated early. Unexpected cardiac arrest sometimes leads to death almost immediately; this is called sudden cardiac death(SCD). The treatment for cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to provide circulatory support, followed by defibrillation.

Please view the video on Heart Disease and Heart Attacks below from Khan Academy.

Pain in the chest can have many different causes and you should not attempt to distinguish between them. Always err on the side of caution and call for help when encountering a person with chest pain. This is absolutely crucial if the victim has had heart problems in the past.

Watch the presentation below to review how to identify and treat victims of a heart attack.

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, in certain situations, is potentially reversible if treated early. Unexpected cardiac arrest sometimes leads to death almost immediately; this is called sudden cardiac death(SCD). The treatment for cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to provide circulatory support, followed by defibrillation.

Please read the following article relating to Sudden Death by Cardiac Arrest.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION