As the world mourns the sudden deaths of celebrities and public figures due to cardiac arrest and heart attacks, the line between these two medical emergencies often gets blurred. Understanding the difference can save lives.
What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked most often by a blood clot. This blockage prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, causing the muscle tissue to begin dying if not treated quickly.
Symptoms may vary from crushing chest pain and shortness of breath to mild discomfort or even no symptoms at all. While commonly associated with men, heart attack symptoms in women may include fatigue, nausea, back pain, or jaw discomfort often making diagnosis more challenging.
