Eli5: what is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
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Heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI) is caused by a blockage in the coronary artery which feeds the heart muscle. The heart can still be beating, have an irregular beat, and diminished blood flow to the rest of the body.
Cardiac arrest is caused by interference with the heart’s electrical systems / signals that regulate rhythm. Cardiac arrest can be caused by several different causes (disease, scarring, drug use, or heart attack / MI).
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