Eli5: what is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
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Ohhh one of these I can answer
The heart is at the end of the day a pump made of living muscle cells. A heart attack is when blood flow to the tissues of the heart is blocked or there isn’t enough oxygenated blood flow to the heart itself. This lack of oxygen causes cell death. If left untreated it can lead to the entire pump failing, the heart stops beating, you’re in cardiac arrest.
There are numerous other causes of cardiac arrest. Respiratory failure, shock (of any type), electrolyte imbalance, trauma, etc.
Any condition that leads to a lack of oxygen getting to your heart or interfere with the electrical activity (in the case of electrolyte imbalance) can cause cardiac arrest.
Source- Registered Nurse who is obsessed with cardiology
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