▎ WuXi AppTec content team editor
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, with more people dying each year than any other cause of death. In cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest can be described as walking on the "single wooden bridge" of life, so what is the difference and connection between these two diseases?
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What is a myocardial infarction?
Myocardial infarction, also known as acute myocardial infarction, occurs mostly on the basis of coronary atherosclerotic stenosis. Usually, in the case of certain triggers, coronary atherosclerotic plaques rupture, causing platelets in the blood to accumulate on the surface of the ruptured plaque to form a thrombus, thereby blocking the coronary lumen, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, and eventually leading to myocardial ischemia necrosis.
Most patients with acute myocardial infarction have prodromal symptoms 1 to 2 days or 1 to 2 weeks before onset, such as worsening of angina, prolonged attacks, and poorer effects after taking nitroglycerin. If the blocked artery is not reopened quickly, the heart normally nourished by that artery begins to die partially; the longer the treatment is delayed, the greater the damage.
What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest usually occurs suddenly, often without warning. Cardiac arrest refers to the sudden termination of the heart's ejection function, the loss of aortic pulse and heart sounds, and severe ischemia and hypoxia of important organs.
Patients may lose consciousness and have no pulse after a few seconds. If the patient is not treated, he or she may die within minutes.
The difference between myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest
If the heart is likened to an energized room, then the heart attack is a problem with the "hydroelectric pipeline", while the cardiac arrest is the failure of the "hydropower system". Therefore, patients with cardiac arrest may have irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) or even directly "power off" (complete stopping beating) at the onset of the disease.
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Relationship between myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest
These two different heart diseases are interrelated. Cardiac arrest can occur after a myocardial infarction, or during recovery; a cardiac attack increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, but most myocardial infarctions do not result in cardiac arrest.
There are many common causes of cardiac arrest, including myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmias (especially ventricular fibrillation), lung clots, severe imbalances in potassium, magnesium, or other minerals in the blood, drug overdose, and chest trauma.
What should I do if someone around me suddenly has a heart attack or cardiac arrest?
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What should I do if I find a heart disease?
First of all, it is recommended to call the emergency number 120 immediately when a patient develops the following symptoms:
Feel chest discomfort, such as chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.;
Discomfort in other areas: pain in the arms, back, neck, chin, or stomach
Sudden onset of nausea or vomiting;
Abnormal fatigue, feeling dizzy, etc.
No matter what health problems a patient has, every minute a doctor arrives early is important because cardiac arrest is reversible.
While waiting for a doctor, use an automated external defibrillator as soon as possible if there is an automated external defibrillator available around you, and if not, start CPR immediately for the patient until the ambulance arrives.