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Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Heart Attack, and Heart Failure: What’s the Difference?

Sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, heart failure—you may have heard these terms before. All relate to the heart, but did you know they mean very different things?

These terms are commonly misused, sometimes even in major news stories.

Here's your chance to better understand what these terms mean and exactly how they differ. The animations below show you what happens to the heart during sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, and heart failure. You can compare all three heart problems at the end.

	Sudden Cardiac Arrest Click to enlarge and interact			What Is It? A sudden event caused by a problem with the heart's "electrical" system, which regulates the heartbeat. What Happens? The heart suddenly beats dangerously fast and as a result cannot pump blood to the body. What Is the Result? Short term: A special life-saving electrical shock to the heart is needed within several minutes to return the heartbeat to normal. Without immediate medical treatment, sudden cardiac arrest will lead to sudden cardiac death. Long term: A person who has had one sudden cardiac arrest is at higher risk for cardiac arrest* in the future.
	Heart Attack Click to enlarge and interact			What Is It? An event caused by a clog in the heart's "plumbing" system, which supplies blood to the heart muscle. What Happens? A blood clot develops after the rupture of plaque. The clot partially or completely blocks a coronary artery that provides blood to the heart muscle, causing damage to a portion of the heart. What Is the Result? Short term: The blocked artery needs to be treated immediately at a hospital. A serious heart attack can result in death. Long term: The damaged heart muscle puts the person at higher risk for sudden cardiac arrest* and heart failure.
	Heart Failure Click to enlarge and interact			What Is It? A condition that weakens the heart muscle, usually over time, causing it to pump less effectively. What Happens? People who have coronary artery disease or who have had a heart attack are most likely to develop heart failure. Almost any form of heart or blood vessel disease can damage or weaken the heart muscle, causing it to pump less blood than the body needs to do ordinary activities. What Is the Result? Short term: Heart failure isn't always noticeable when the heart muscle first begins to weaken. Long term: Over time, a person will develop fatigue, shortness of breath, and other problems that make it increasingly harder to do ordinary daily activities. The weakened heart muscle puts the person at higher risk for sudden cardiac arrest.*
	Compare Heart Problems Click to enlarge and interact			You can compare sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, and heart failure to see how they differ. Click the graphic at left, then move your cursor over the words Before and After to view and compare.

* A person at risk for sudden cardiac arrest may benefit from an implantable defibrillator.

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