Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: Warning Signs, Prevention and What to Do

Heart attack and cardiac arrest are sometimes treated as if they mean the same thing, but they are different medical emergencies.

Understanding the difference can be lifesaving.

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is suddenly reduced or blocked.

A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively around the body. The person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally. British Heart Foundation

Both require urgent medical attention, but what you see—and what you need to do—can be different.

What Is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when part of the heart muscle suddenly loses its blood supply.

This is commonly related to coronary heart disease and blockage of a coronary artery.

Without sufficient blood and oxygen, heart muscle can become damaged.

Rapid treatment is therefore extremely important. British Heart Foundation

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively around the body.

The person typically:

• collapses,
• becomes unconscious,
• is unresponsive, and
• stops breathing normally or may make abnormal gasping noises.

Without immediate treatment, cardiac arrest is usually fatal. British Heart Foundation

This is why recognising cardiac arrest and starting CPR quickly can make such a significant difference.

Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest Are Not the Same

One simple way to understand the difference is:

Heart attack = a circulation problem affecting blood supply to the heart muscle.

Cardiac arrest = the heart stops effectively pumping blood around the body.

Someone having a heart attack is often still conscious and breathing.

Someone in cardiac arrest is unresponsive and is not breathing normally.

However, a heart attack can sometimes cause cardiac arrest. British Heart Foundation

What Are the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack?

Heart attack symptoms can differ from person to person.

According to the British Heart Foundation, common symptoms include:

• sudden chest pain or discomfort that does not go away,
• pain that spreads to either arm,
• pain spreading to the neck, jaw, upper back or stomach,
• shortness of breath,
• sweating,
• feeling sick, and
• feeling light-headed. British Heart Foundation

Chest discomfort may feel like pressure, heaviness, tightness or burning.

Some people experience severe pain, while others experience less obvious discomfort.

You do not need to experience every possible symptom for it to be a heart attack.

Can a Heart Attack Feel Like Indigestion?

Yes, heart attack discomfort can sometimes feel similar to indigestion.

This is one reason potentially serious symptoms should not be dismissed simply because they do not resemble the dramatic heart attacks sometimes portrayed in films.

If you think you or someone else may be experiencing a heart attack, treat it as a medical emergency.

What Should You Do If You Suspect a Heart Attack?

In the UK, call 999 immediately for an ambulance if you think you or somebody else is having a heart attack.

Do not attempt to drive yourself to hospital.

The British Heart Foundation advises sitting down and remaining calm while waiting for the ambulance. It also advises taking 300mg aspirin if available and if the person is not allergic to aspirin. British Heart Foundation

However, aspirin is not appropriate for everyone. Follow instructions from the emergency call handler and healthcare professionals.

Do not delay calling 999 while searching online for additional information.

How Do You Recognise Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest usually occurs suddenly.

Suspect cardiac arrest if someone:

• suddenly collapses,
• is unconscious,
• does not respond when you speak to or gently shake them, and
• is not breathing normally.

They may make occasional gasping noises. Gasping should not be mistaken for normal breathing. British Heart Foundation

Cardiac arrest requires immediate action.

What Should You Do During Cardiac Arrest?

If somebody is unresponsive and not breathing normally:

Call 999 and start CPR immediately.

If another person is available, ask them to find a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED).

Follow the emergency call handler's instructions.

The British Heart Foundation advises continuing CPR until emergency professionals take over or you are instructed otherwise. British Heart Foundation

What Is CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Chest compressions during CPR help maintain some circulation of blood and oxygen while waiting for emergency treatment.

CPR does not replace professional emergency care. Its purpose is to help keep blood circulating until more advanced treatment becomes available.

Learning CPR before an emergency occurs can give you greater confidence if you ever need to respond to cardiac arrest.

The British Heart Foundation provides free CPR training through its RevivR programme. British Heart Foundation

What Is a Defibrillator?

A defibrillator—or AED—is a device that analyses the heart's rhythm and can deliver a controlled electrical shock when an appropriate shockable rhythm is detected.

You do not need to be a doctor or paramedic to use a public-access defibrillator.

Modern devices provide spoken or visual instructions explaining what to do.

The device analyses the person's heart rhythm and only advises a shock when appropriate. British Heart Foundation

If you are alone with somebody in cardiac arrest, do not abandon CPR to search for a defibrillator. Call 999 and follow the emergency operator's instructions.

If somebody else is available, they can be sent to retrieve the nearest AED. British Heart Foundation

Can Heart Attacks Be Prevented?

Not every heart attack can be prevented.

Some risk factors—such as age and family history—cannot be changed.

However, several modifiable factors can influence cardiovascular risk.

The British Heart Foundation recommends measures including:

• stopping smoking,
• being physically active,
• maintaining a healthy diet and weight,
• limiting alcohol,
• controlling high blood pressure,
• managing cholesterol, and
• controlling blood sugar when you have diabetes. British Heart Foundation

These steps reduce risk; they do not provide a guarantee that a heart attack will never occur.

1. Don't Smoke

Smoking is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.

If you smoke, stopping is one of the important steps you can take for your heart and wider health.

People who find quitting difficult can seek professional stop-smoking support rather than relying entirely on willpower.

2. Be Physically Active

Regular physical activity supports cardiovascular health.

Activity does not necessarily mean joining a gym.

Depending on your health and ability, walking, cycling, swimming, structured exercise and other forms of movement can contribute to an active lifestyle.

If you have cardiovascular disease or another condition that affects your ability to exercise safely, discuss appropriate activity with your healthcare team.

3. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Rather than focusing on one supposedly heart-protective food, look at your overall eating pattern.

A balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables and fruit, higher-fibre foods and appropriate sources of protein can contribute to cardiovascular health.

People with high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure or other medical conditions may also receive personalised dietary advice.

4. Know Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure often causes no obvious symptoms.

Yet it is an important cardiovascular risk factor.

Having your blood pressure checked can help identify hypertension before it causes serious complications.

If you have been prescribed medication for high blood pressure, take it according to your healthcare professional's instructions rather than stopping it because you feel well.

5. Manage High Cholesterol

High cholesterol can contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Your overall risk depends on more than one cholesterol number, however.

Healthcare professionals may consider factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, family history and other health information when assessing cardiovascular risk.

If cholesterol-lowering medication has been prescribed, discuss concerns or side effects with your healthcare professional rather than stopping treatment yourself.

6. Manage Diabetes

Diabetes can increase cardiovascular risk.

If you have diabetes, managing blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and other risk factors with your healthcare team can contribute to protecting your cardiovascular health.

Attend recommended reviews and take prescribed medicines as directed.

7. Maintain a Healthy Weight Where Appropriate

For people carrying excess body weight, achieving and maintaining a healthier weight may contribute to improvements in cardiovascular risk factors.

However, health should not be reduced to body weight alone.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, smoking, physical activity, diet, sleep and other factors also matter.

Avoid extreme diets or unproven weight-loss products promising rapid cardiovascular benefits.

8. Attend Health Checks

Some cardiovascular risk factors produce few or no symptoms.

Routine health checks can therefore be useful.

In England, eligible adults aged 40 to 74 can receive an NHS Health Check designed to identify risk of conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. British Heart Foundation

People with existing conditions or particular risk factors may require different or more frequent monitoring.

Can Cardiac Arrest Be Prevented?

Cardiac arrest has several possible causes, including abnormal heart rhythms, heart attack and other heart conditions. Other causes can include severe blood loss, lack of oxygen, electrocution and drug overdose. British Heart Foundation

Not every cardiac arrest is predictable or preventable.

For people with known cardiovascular disease, following prescribed treatment and managing relevant risk factors can help reduce risk.

Some people at particularly high risk may require specialist treatment, including an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), based on assessment by their cardiology team.

Why Everyone Should Consider Learning CPR

You do not need to work in healthcare to learn CPR.

Cardiac arrest can happen at home, at work or in a public place.

Knowing how to recognise it, call emergency services, perform CPR and use a defibrillator could allow you to help while an ambulance is on its way.

Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to the British Heart Foundation. British Heart Foundation

Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: Remember This

The most important distinction is straightforward:

Heart attack: blood flow to part of the heart muscle becomes blocked.

Cardiac arrest: the heart stops pumping blood effectively, and the person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally.

Both are emergencies.

If you suspect a heart attack in the UK, call 999 immediately.

If somebody suddenly collapses, is unresponsive and is not breathing normally, call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator as soon as one is available, following emergency-service instructions. British Heart Foundation

Knowing the difference—and knowing what to do—could help save a life.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is intended for general educational information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, emergency assessment or treatment. In a suspected medical emergency, contact the appropriate emergency service immediately.

Sources and Further Reading

• British Heart Foundation — Heart attack
• British Heart Foundation — Cardiac arrest
• British Heart Foundation — CPR and defibrillators
• British Heart Foundation — Understanding defibrillators

Related reading: things to know about hypertension.