Stories
Understanding Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attacks After Nana Patekar's Death at 75
- •Veteran actor Nana Patekar reportedly passed away at 75 following a severe cardiac emergency in Goa.
- •Medical experts clarify that a heart attack and cardiac arrest are distinct conditions, though a heart attack can trigger a cardiac arrest.
- •Dr Anshul Kumar Jain explains that cardiac arrest causes sudden unresponsiveness and loss of normal breathing, requiring immediate CPR and an AED.
- •Heart attack symptoms can include chest discomfort radiating to the arms or jaw, breathlessness, and cold sweating, and can occur even while resting.
- •Preventative measures include regular physical activity, healthy eating, avoiding tobacco, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol.
Key Questions Answered
A heart attack happens when blood flow to a portion of the heart muscle is blocked due to a clot in a narrowed coronary artery. In contrast, cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing it to suddenly stop pumping blood effectively.
Cardiac arrest typically strikes suddenly without warning, causing a person to collapse abruptly, become unresponsive, and stop breathing normally. However, some individuals may experience brief prior symptoms such as chest discomfort, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, or fainting.
If a person collapses and stops breathing normally, emergency medical services should be called right away. Bystanders should immediately begin CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) as soon as one is accessible to maximize the chance of survival.
