Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest

If you call 911 and say someone is having a heart attack, the assumption will be that someone is in cardiac arrest. So, what's really the difference, and what should you do? Let's begin by examining both. A heart attack is caused by a blockage or spasm of a coronary artery. Essentially, it is a plumbing issue with the heart. This interrupted blood flow results in the heart muscle dying. Heart attacks are the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Although they can be fatal, prompt treatment can significantly improve the chances of survival. Basically, the person in distress is talking to you. Most often, the signs of a heart attack include chest pain, discomfort, or pressure, pain or discomfort in the left arm, both arms, upper back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath. Feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint. Cold, clammy, sweaty skin. Nausea or vomiting is a predominant sign in women. The main takeaway is that with symptoms of a heart attack or any other suspected emergency, you MUST call 911 immediately.

Now, cardiac arrest. Many of you witnessed the young football player from the Buffalo Bills collapse on the field as if someone had flipped a switch. Cardiac arrest ranks among the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide. Specifically, cardiac arrest in adults is the loss of the heart’s ability to pump blood through the body due to an inadequate or absent heartbeat. The most dramatic occurrence, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), can happen with little or no warning. SCA occurs when the normal electrical impulses in the heart become rapid or chaotic and cause the heart to stop beating. This means the heart cannot pump blood, so blood flow to the body, along with the oxygen the blood carries to vital organs, abruptly stops. Immediate, high-quality CPR, along with early defibrillation using an automatic external defibrillator, an AED can more than double the likelihood of a victim’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.

So, what should we do if we come across someone complaining about symptoms of a heart attack or someone who suddenly collapses in cardiac arrest? First and foremost, call 911. In my next column, I will discuss what exactly happens when you call the 911 emergency center and speak to a 911 operator. What information are they looking for, and what do you need to do? When you encounter someone in distress, expect pushback from that person. Specifically, they will tell you not to call 911. You need to push through that and make that call.

Several years ago, a friend of my wife called me late one night. She was complaining of feeling nauseated and experiencing shortness of breath. I informed her that she might be having a heart attack and that I was going to call the emergency services (911). This was met by NO! I SHOULD NOT HAVE CALLED YOU, DON’T BOTHER THEM, THEY ARE BUSY. I’ll CALL YOU IN THE MORNING. 

Of course, I did make the call, and when the fire department arrived, they indeed determined that she was having a heart attack. I cannot stress enough that when faced with any emergency, whether suspicious activity, criminal behavior, or medical emergency, it is crucial to make that call. 

Secondly, take a first aid class; at the very least, learn CPR and understand compression-only CPR. When someone collapses from sudden cardiac arrest, their blood is full of oxygen. The problem is that the oxygenated blood is not circulating through the body. Compression-only CPR initially without giving breaths is the norm. CPR is extremely important as an immediate treatment of suspected SCA. It can sustain life by maintaining blood flow and providing oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. But it won’t restart the heart. The primary purpose of immediate CPR is to buy time until an AED can be used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. High-quality CPR, along with early defibrillation with an AED, can more than double the likelihood of a person’s chances of survival.

NEXT, BUILD YOUR TEAM. First, call 911. They will dispatch the first responders to your location and inform you where the nearest AED is located. Performing CPR can quickly exhaust you, resulting in ineffective compressions. It is essential to have other people who will undoubtedly stop to see what's going on to be ready to take over CPR. Once the 911 operator informs you of the nearest AED’s location, someone must go get it. As emergency services such as fire, police, and EMS are en route, someone should be prepared to flag them down and direct them to the victim's location. 

These are the keys to successful treatment of a heart attack or cardiac arrest. But none of it works unless you and those around you, family and friends, know how to perform CPR and how an AED works and should be applied. Take the time to take a first aid class - take the time to save a life!

The Marco Island Power Squadron offers free CPR/AED First Aid classes most months of the year. Call or email the Power Squadron for more information - 239-393-0150 or go to www.marcoboatingclub.org.

As I mentioned, my next column will discuss the county's 911 emergency center, what information they need, and an APP called Pulse Point.