Heart attack and cardiac arrest are both serious medical emergencies that affect the heart, but they are different conditions.

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, usually by a blood clot. This blockage can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle, which can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. Heart attacks can be caused by various factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, family history, and stress.

On the other hand, cardiac arrest is a sudden and unexpected loss of heart function, which causes the heart to stop beating effectively. This can occur due to an electrical malfunction in the heart, causing it to beat irregularly or too fast (ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia), or due to other factors such as heart disease, trauma, drug overdose, or electrolyte imbalances. Cardiac arrest leads to a sudden loss of consciousness, cessation of breathing, and no detectable pulse. It requires immediate emergency treatment, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, to restore the heart’s normal rhythm and function.

In summary, a heart attack is a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, whereas cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function leading to a cessation of heartbeat and breathing.
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