confused

[stillaboveground]

Hi all, please can anyone tell me the difference between an heart attack and a cardiac arrest. When I had my heart attack I was in intensive care for 5 days then on a heart ward for another week before I was allowed home, my recovery was a gradual slow recovery over a few weeks/months, followed by cardiac rehab, a neighbor told me she had a cardiac arrest and was out of hospital the following day and was out walking her very boisterous dogs throwing balls for them 4 days later, is she right, or am I just a whimp ???????? Keep safe, take care.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

It's basically a plumbing issue and an electrical issue.

A heart attack is a plumbing issue where the blood supply to the heart is disrupted by a blocked artery which deprives the heart of oxygenated blood - the solution to this problem could be a stent or bypass surgery or just medication.

A cardiac arrest is where the electrical signal that causes your heart to contract and pump blood stops, the patient will collapse, their heart will stop, they will stop breathing. CPR is needed to be undertaken asap to prevent the patient dying . The most frequent cause for a cardiac arrest is an abnormal heart rhythm (an arrhythmia) . Frequently after such an event patients are frequently fitted with an ICD( Implantable cardioverter defibrillator) which in the event of the patient having an arrhythmia in the future will put the shock the heart back into a normal rhythm.

I imagine it's possible that she could have been out throwing the ball for the dog 4 days later, having had a heart attack and a cardiac arrest I certainly wasn't, I think most people are quite frightened when they come around and are told what happened which leave a few mental scars for some time before they feel confident to carry on with their normal lives again.

[stillaboveground in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thank you for your reply, a bit clearer now.

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to stillaboveground]

You're welcome, happy to help,

[Edwen_]

Hi stillaboveground,

It depends on the severity of the heart attack or cardiac arrest and the time it takes to get medical support. Each case is different. Over strenuous exercise is not advised following the event because your body needs time to heal. Exercise is essential but it needs to be done moderately following the rehab advice. You must have needed the extra time in hospital. I wouldn’t compare yourself to your neighbour if I were you, focus on your own recovery. Best wishes

[stillaboveground in reply to Edwen_]

Thank you Edwen for your reply, you are probably right I should concentrate on my own health, I think my neighbor was saying I shouldn't have been in hospital (in Spain and here in the UK) for so long. I am quite well now, thanks to the brilliant cardiac teams both in Spain and here in the UK. Take care, keep safe.

[Edwen_ in reply to stillaboveground]

I’m glad to hear you are well, best wishes.

[Ianc2]

Your neighbour probably had a minor misfire and is talking through her trumpet. Your event was a totally different type of event that you were very lucky to survive and it sounds like the medics have exerted all their knowledge and skills to put you right.. If you follow their rehab instructions, watch your diet and get a nice and easy exercise routine going, you should be good for another 30 years.

[stillaboveground in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you for your reply Ianc2, I love your terminology. Same neighbor also got cured of bowel cancer in days apparently. My life changing incident was in May 2019, but owing to excellent care from the cardiac teams and a fantastic family I am now much improved, (Definitely a wake up call). I am a 75 year old woman so I think another 30 years is pushing it a bit, but thanks for the thought. Take care and keep safe. Ruth

[jowalk6]

I had a cardiac arrest at home. I spent 9 days on life support and a month in hospital. I was fitted with an icd. Everyone and every case is different hun, don't be so hard on yourself. Take whatever time you need for your physical and mental health. You'll get there x

[stillaboveground in reply to jowalk6]

Thank you jowalk6 for your reply. You sound to have had it a bit tough, but like you say take the time to get there, I am very much better now, hope you are doing okay. Take care, stay safe. Ruth

[jowalk6]

I am doing okay now thank you Ruth. I just keep smiling, my children are my best medicine. Take care x

[Hidden]

Hi last year I had two heart attacks and whilst in hospital I suffered two cardiac arrests, the first CA was while I was sleeping I opened my eyes to find a guy pounding on my chest and a another guy with a set of paddles standing by the side of me and a nurse holding my hand,I had no idea what was going on when I finally managed to speak they told me what had happened and that they had spent twenty minutes trying to revive me, I was then put on a pace machine as my heart rate kept falling below fifty beats per minute and believe me it was not a pleasant experience the consultant tried desperately to get me into theatre as they said I need a pacemaker, eventually they got me a slot and rushed me down, five hours later, and then when they tried to move me onto the operating table I crashed again they brought me round and quickly got the pacemaker fitted, I was then transferred to a ward where I was not allowed to leave my bed for two days and only then with the help of a nurse I was discharged five days later and was told to do things slowly and not to rush things so if this person is out and about walking the next day and throwing balls for her dog and I know all people are different but I would be surprised that they had suffered a cardiac arrest.

[stillaboveground in reply to Hidden]

Hi thank you for your reply, you sound to have had quite a journey, hope you are much better now. My neighbor thinks everyone should just shrug off these ailments, I don't wish malice to anyone but she really needs to either experience a bad illness or watch a loved one suffer one. I don't think for one minute she had a cardiac arrest, she let me know that I should not have been in hospital so long with my heart attack, she must know better than the cardiac doctors. take care keep safe Ruth

[Hidden in reply to stillaboveground]

Hi I agree some people need to suffer from something serious before commenting or passing on there thoughts like you say no malice ment, we have a couple of charactors in our town who no matter what you have gone through they have gone through it much more serious than you.I am doing well thank you I have kept in contact with my cardiology team, and awaiting pacemaker check.

Ron

[stillaboveground in reply to Hidden]

Glad you are okay, I have a pair of relation who love tablets, highlight of their week is getting a new prescription, I feel sad for them they google everything other people have had to see if they have any symptoms. Take care and keep safe. Ruth

[Hidden in reply to stillaboveground]

Thanks you take care to.

Ron