Many people confuse cardiac arrest and heart attack because the two conditions affect the same organ i.e. the heart. The lack of knowledge makes many people make the mistake of performing first aid for cardiac arrest 
while it is the one for heart attack that should be performed and vice verse. This calls for a need to be able to determine the health condition a victim may be suffering from before performing any first aid procedure. To understand the differences that exist between these two closely related health conditions of the heart, continue reading the article.
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack is a condition that is characterized by restriction to the heart in its overall blood flow. Blood has highly concentrated level of oxygen. Whenever any muscle of the heart is blocked from natural blood flow, that area experiences a high amount of damage and starts to die. While this heart problem is viewed as the most common killers, this may not be the case if assistance is provided at the right time. The survival rate of the victim is very high if he or she is treated within the first one hour after starting to experience the symptoms associated with the attack. This reduces the risk of suffering from a permanent disability or death as a result of the problem. However, victims of cardiac arrest do not have high chances of survival. This means that any second is very crucial in the treatment process of this problem. It is good to note that death can occur within ten seconds of the problem. According to studies the chances of survival for a cardiac arrest victim is less than 5 percent.
What Is Cardiac Arrest?
This problem does not occur as a result of the blockage of the heart muscle and many people think. This is a more fatal problem in which the heart just stops to function. Once the heart stops functioning the entire body is affected because the flow of oxygen to vital organs is also affected. The heart fails to acquire the standard rhythm that was previously the normal leading to collapsing of the patient. The victim loses consciousness and breathing also stops completely. If assistance is offered by use of a defibrillator, it is possible for the victim to regain his or her natural heart beat. The time span for this work is very tight that as time moves the treatment method may fail to work. Studies have shown that almost 95 percent of victims of cardiac arrest die unlike in heart attack which the survival rate is high.
Where to Learn More?
To learn more about circulatory emergencies such as heart attacks, angina, stroke and cardiac arrest enrol in a OH&S approved first aid and CPR course with a popular provider. Visit our location page to view all providers located throughout North America. Statistically you are more likely to rescue a loved one that anyone else. Learn to save the life of a friend or family member by enrolling in a course today.