What is the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack?

Von Natur.wiki Autoren-Team

Das Jahr begann für die Spieler der Buffalo Bills und Cincinnati Bengals düster, als sich am 2. Januar 2023 während ihres NFL-Spiels in Cincinnati, Ohio, ein alarmierender Vorfall ereignete. Damar Hamlin, Safety der Buffalo Bills, erlitt im ersten Viertel einen plötzlichen Herzstillstand, der das Stadion in einen Schockzustand versetzte. Es kam schnelle medizinische Hilfe in Form von Rettungskräften an, die die Situation effizient bewältigten: Sie nahmen Hamlin den Helm ab, verabreichten Sauerstoff aus einer tragbaren Flasche und führten etwa acht Minuten lang Wiederbelebungsmaßnahmen durch, bevor er in ein nahegelegenes Krankenhaus transportiert wurde. Der Ernst der Lage wurde später von der …
The year began for the players of the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals dark when an alarming incident occurred on January 2, 2023 during their NFL game in Cincinnati, Ohio. Damar Hamlin, Safety of the Buffalo Bills, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the first quarter to put the stadium into a shock state. Fast medical help in the form of rescue workers, who efficiently mastered the situation, took up the helmine, administered oxygen from a portable bottle and carried out resuscitation measures for about eight minutes before it was transported to a nearby hospital. The seriousness of the situation was later ... (Symbolbild/natur.wiki)

The year started for the players of Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals dark when an alarming incident occurred on January 2, 2023 during their NFL game in Cincinnati, Ohio. Damar Hamlin, Safety of the Buffalo Bills, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the first quarter that put the stadium into a shock state.

It was quickly medical help in the form of rescue workers who efficiently mastered the situation: they decreased Hamlin, administered oxygen from a portable bottle and carried out resuscitation measures for about eight minutes before it was transported to a nearby hospital. The seriousness of the situation was later confirmed by the BILS organization in a press release in which it was said that Hamlin had suffered a cardiac arrest after a collision on the field.

Although Hamlin's heartbeat was restored in the field and he was in a critical condition in the hospital, the cause of the sudden cardiac arrest remained unknown.

cardiac arrest enlightened

The cardiac arrest means a sudden failure of the heart function, which is often due to irregularities in the electrical system of the heart. This can occur in people with or without the underlying heart disease or coronary heart disease (KHK). In the event of a cardiac arrest, the heart no longer effectively beats, which can lead to the person no longer reacting or snapping for air.

In the Damar-Hamlin scenario, the unexpected strength and the impact on the chest by the football game seemed to trigger cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, death can occur within minutes if there is no immediate intervention such as HLW or the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

heart attack vs. cardiac arrest

Although the terms "cardiac arrest" and "heart attack" are often used synonymously, it is important to understand their difference. Essentially, a heart attack can be seen as a "circulatory problem", while a cardiac arrest is an "electrical" problem.

decrypt heart attacks

In contrast to cardiac arrest, heart attacks are usually triggered by long -term circulatory problems despite their sudden occurrence. Much of the heart attacks are triggered by CAD, a disease characterized by plaque formation in the arteries, which transport blood to the heart.

If the artery passage narrowed - a phenomenon that is known as atherosclerosis - the heart has to work more to pump blood, which leads to chest pain or angina pectoris, the key indicator of coronary heart disease and a forerunner of a heart attack. Other symptoms are weakness, drowsiness, nausea or cold sweat, pain or symptoms in the arms or shoulder as well as shortness of breath.

In the case of a heart attack, the blood flow of the heart is either blocked or slowed. If the clogged artery is not opened again immediately, the heart section that depends on it can suffer irreversible damage.

statistics and studies

According to CDC, heart disease are the most common cause of death in the United States. 655,000 Americans die every year. Around 805,000 of them suffer a heart attack every year. On the other hand, according to the American Heart Association, almost 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, stress is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and heart attacks. It came to the conclusion that people with a high stress level are more often affected by these life -threatening diseases. In view of the strong connection between psychological stress and cardiovascular diseases, it is of crucial importance to monitor and manage the stress level.

Changes to the lifestyle to improve heart health

The risk of a heart attack and cardiac arrest can be significantly reduced by certain changes in the lifestyle:

  • Regular movement: Regular movement of medium intensity helps to keep a healthy weight and lowers the risk of heart disease.
  • balanced diet: eating a diet that is rich in fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grain products can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. It is also recommended to limit salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
  • not smoking: Smoking increases the risk of heart diseases and other health problems. Therefore, smoking cessation has a positive effect on general heart health.

  • moderate alcohol consumption: If you consume alcohol, it is best to do this in moderation.
  • Coping with stress: This includes strategies such as meditation, yoga or simply spend time in nature or with loved ones.

The events related to Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during the NFL game illustrate how important it is to understand the differences between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. Each disease brings unique challenges and risk factors that require quick and specific reactions.

While stress is an undeniable link in the chain that leads to heart attacks and cardiac arrays, it is only part of the puzzle. Genetic predispositions, lifestyle decisions and general health all play an important role in the cardiological health landscape. To get used to heart -healthy habits and understand the signs and symptoms of these life -threatening diseases can actually make a difference. Knowledge is the first line of defense in the fight against these quiet killers. As always, contact medical specialist staff to receive individual advice based on the individual state of health and individual needs.

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