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The Surprising Difference Between Heart Attack And Heart Failure That Will Help You Save A Life

The Surprising Difference Between Heart Attack And Heart Failure That Will Help You Save A Life

"Heart attack" or "Cardiac arrest"? Often these two terms are confused by most to cite heart problems that occur suddenly. Although they are related to the heart, their symptoms and medical problems are different; their only similarity is that they both can present a danger of death.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. 600,000 people are at risk of heart attacks each year.

Heart attack: a problem of blood supply to the heart

According to the American Heart Association, heart attack is often linked to a poor supply of blood, part of the heart muscle because of an artery blocked by a blood clot. It is essential, at the time of the crisis, to open the artery to restore blood flow. If not, this part of the muscle will deteriorate due to lack of oxygen, causing a heart attack. However, the heart continues to beat.
  • Symptoms of a heart attack
  • Pain or tightness in the abdomen or chest.
  • Indigestion impression
  • Intense pain in the left arm, jaw, shoulder or neck.
  • Difficult breathing and wheezing
  • Dizziness and vertigo
  • Sweat
  • Heart palpitations
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Cough

Frequent causes of a heart attack

According to the WHO, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and smoking are significant factors, responsible for about 80% of heart problems. Similarly, according to the Interheart study, the risk factors for a heart attack are:
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • hypertension
  • obesity
  • Chronic stress that can manifest as depression, financial worries, etc.
  • Prevention of risk factors
  • Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages
  • Consume fruits and vegetables daily
  • Practice regular physical activity
  • Manage stress in ways such as yoga, meditation or enjoyable manual activity (gardening, carving, embroidery, DIY, etc.)
  • Heart attack and emergency measures

If you have a heart attack or if you witness someone who suffers from it, it is necessary:
  • To immediately call for help
  • To loosen his clothes
  • To put the victim in a comfortable position
  • Give him an aspirin tablet to thin the blood.
  • Cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness, due to a cessation of normal electrical activity of the heart. This is the cause of the death of 50,000 French, each year. According to Dr. Haitmam Ahmed, some people may experience a dizziness or runaway heart rate before cardiac arrest. However, other people do not feel any symptoms.

Symptoms of cardiac arrest

The symptoms may be similar to a heart attack except that a person who suffers from a cardiac arrest, may know in addition:
  • A lack of responsiveness
  • A loss of breath
  • A sudden collapse
  • Discoloration of the face in blue
  • Loss of pulse

Also, people who suffer a heart attack are more likely to develop a cardiac arrest that could thereby cause an instant death.

Causes of cardiac arrest

The main causes of cardiac arrest are:
  • Cardiac arrhythmia: it is characterized by a malfunction of the heart.
  • Heart defects at birth
  • A thick, hypertrophied heart muscle, which also weakens the heart.
  • Coronary disease
  • Cardiac arrest and emergency response
  • When one is a victim of a cardiac arrest and relief is not immediate, the danger of death is imminent.

Also, according to Dr. Gerald Kierzek, emergency doctor, if you are facing a person who is suffering from this discomfort, who has lost consciousness and no longer breathes:
  • Call help immediately
  • Start the cardiac massage while waiting for the arrival of a defibrillator. Cardiac massage consists of pressing continuously and firmly on the chest. This act of compression will allow the blood to circulate in the body when the heart is no longer able to act as a pump.
  • Massage practice
  • Lay the victim on his back on a hard surface.
  • Kneel next to the victim.
  • Place the palm of one hand in the center of the chest then the other hand above and push them of 4 to 5 centimeters arms extended, not bent.
  • Release the pressure so that the wall goes up
  • Do this 100 times a minute
  • Continue until help arrives or victim responds