7 Common Heart Disease Myths You Should STOP Believing
Myth #1: Cardiac arrest = heart attack
One of the biggest misconceptions regarding heart is that a heart attack is the same thing as a cardiac arrest.
It’s not – and knowing the difference in terms of symptoms is crucial to detect each one early and get immediate help. Here’s the deal:
A heart attack means that a heart artery is blocked, thus restricting the blood flow to the heart. When your heart stops receiving enough blood and oxygen, parts of the muscle start dying. This is a blood circulation problem that requires immediate assistance.
A cardiac arrest happens when the heart stops sending blood towards the rest of the body, therefore restricting breathing. This emergency situation requires CPR and it’s an electrical problem.
Many times, a heart attack can trigger a cardiac arrest because when the heart stops receiving blood, it beats irregularly, thus sending less blood than needed to the rest of the body.
ATTENTION! Both heart attack and cardiac arrest are emergency situations that require immediate medical assistance, so call 911 as soon as possible if you or a loved one experience irregular heartbeat, chest pain or difficulty breathing.
