Cardiac Arrest, Stroke, Heart Attack: What is the difference?

Young or old, heart related diseases are becoming more common. You hear stories of fit, young people suddenly developing heart related condition and even perishing from it.

So what is the difference between a stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrest?

Knowing the difference can save lives.

A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating suddenly. It is caused by a malfunctioning of the electrical system of the heart.

The pace maker, also known as the SA Node, regulates the beating of the heart by sending an electric signal. If this signal gets disrupted, the heart stops beating.

The signal itself can be disrupted because of blockage of the arteries, electrolytes being imbalanced, physical stress, recreational drugs, or a lack of oxygen, to name a few.

A heart attack typically manifests as chest pain, sweating, difficulty in breathing, dizziness or nausea. It is caused by a blockage of the arteries resulting in low or poor blood being supplied to the heart.

Lack of blood results in poor delivery of oxygen, which makes it difficult for your heart to function.

A stroke is a lack of delivery of blood to the brain. Symptoms include paralysis, especially of one side of the body, numbness in the hands or face or difficulty in speech.

It is important to quickly identify which one we are dealing with.

If you notice, the one common factor among all of them is blocked or reduced blood flow which causes oxygen deprivation.

So what can you do to improve this?

Blood circulation is best improved by circulating blood, to state the obvious. Blood circulation is best improved by physical activity, especially walking.

When you walk, your blood flow increases by up to twenty times. This increased blood cirulation acts like a jet stream, cleaning your arteries of blockages.

When you exercise, your body believes you will need more oxygen. It therefore prepares your entire body to recieve this oxygen, enlargining your lungs, improving oxygen distribution and improving oxygen uptake.

Simple as it may sound, regular walking is by far the best way to reduce the risk of a blocked artery.

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