Early recognition of symptoms, understanding the difference between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest, and taking quick action is necessary to prevent further loss.
Heart attacks are no longer just a concern for the elderly they’re now alarmingly on the rise across all age groups, especially among the young. Once considered a condition primarily affecting older adults, cardiac events are increasingly being reported in people in their 30s and even 20s.
According to Dr. Keshava R., a renowned cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, a heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is severely reduced or completely blocked, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen. Without timely medical intervention, this can cause permanent damage to the heart and significantly increase the risk of death.
Warning Signs of Heart Attack You Should Know
Dr Keshava explains that timely recognition of symptoms and diagnosis are crucial for survival. The classic warning signs are: discomfort in the chest, and feeling of pressure on the chest (burning or tightness), pain radiating to the arms, shoulders, back, neck, or jaw. Other symptoms are shortness of breath, profuse sweating (cold sweats), nausea, lightheadedness, and unusual exhaustion.
Chest pain is the most serious known cause and isn’t always present. Men and women who are suffering from diabetes, or older patients, can have something called a silent heart attack, which is not usually accompanied by chest pain.
Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest: The Difference
Many individuals are often confused or use interchangeably, a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are not the same thing, and both of them have different medical emergencies.
A Heart Attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked in the blood vessels, which limits the flow of oxygen to the heart muscles. Along with the heart attacks, it can be serious to know that this can’t lead to sudden death and with treatment, a person can survive without lasting effects.
Cardiac Arrest is a much worse and major condition in which the blood ceases to flow due to a sudden loss of heart function. Cardiac arrest is a condition in which the blood ceases to flow to the brain and other parts of the body, and it’s a quick process. In these conditions, the individual will lose consciousness and stop breathing immediately. “There is no time to waste,” says Dr Keshava. Without CPR and defibrillation, there is a difference of just a few minutes between life and death.
Emergency Treatment: The First Hour is the Most Critical
In the case of a Heart attack, the quickest action that can save lives. The sooner you take an aspirin, the sooner clotting will begin to slow down; you still need emergency treatment such as an angioplasty or immediate clot-busting treatment. Too many people make the mistake of ignoring their early symptoms, such as gas or indigestion. Dr Keshava cautioned that self-diagnosis is always necessary, and consulting a doctor for possible symptoms of a heart attack is crucial.
The rise in heart attacks among younger individuals is a serious reminder that heart health is no longer just a concern for elderly people. Early recognition of symptoms, understanding the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, and acting on a rapid pace can prevent further loss. ‘Golden hour’ is the critical or serious time that needs quicker treatment. Awareness, timely intervention, and lifestyle changes are keys to preventing heart-related emergencies.
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