Cardiac Emergencies Misconceptions And Facts

5/30/2025 6:50:00 PM |

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Timely intervention in cardiac emergencies significantly impacts patient outcomes and can mean the difference between life and death. Despite advances in cardiac care, common misconceptions about cardiac conditions persist, often leading to delayed treatment. Understanding common misconceptions can help you recognise and respond to cardiac emergencies.

Misconception 1: All Chest Pain Indicates a Heart Attack

While chest pain can signal a heart attack, it may also indicate other conditions like muscle strain. Given its potentially life-threatening nature, all unexplained chest discomfort requires prompt medical evaluation.

Angina, a recurring chest pain triggered by exertion or stress, often indicates coronary artery disease. Angina typically improves within 5 to 10 minutes of rest or with nitroglycerin medication. However, chest pain that persists longer than 15 minutes and is not relieved by rest requires immediate medical attention, as this may signal an impending heart attack.

Misconception 2: Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest Are the Same

While often confused, heart attack and cardiac arrest are two distinct cardiovascular emergencies with different causes, symptoms and treatments.

Heart Attack	Cardiac Arrest
Blood flow blocked	Electrical malfunction
Occurs when blood flow in a coronary artery is suddenly blocked	Occurs when there is electrical malfunction in the heart, causing life-threatening arrhythmia
Results in injury to heart muscle tissue due to lack of blood supply (myocardial infarction)	Causes ineffective heart pumping, preventing vital organs from receiving blood and oxygen
Emergency treatment includes: • Blood-thinning medication • Coronary angioplasty to restore blood flow • Coronary artery bypass surgery when necessary	Requires immediate emergency response: • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) • Treatment with automated external defibrillator (AED) • Survival rates decrease by 7-10% for every minute without CPR/AED

Though heart attacks and cardiac arrest have different presentations, cardiac arrest can be the result of heart attacks.

Misconception 3: Heart Emergencies Always Have Obvious Symptoms

Heart attack symptoms are typically more pronounced, while cardiac arrest often occurs without warning symptoms.

Common Heart Attack Symptoms:

• Chest pain or discomfort lasting longer than 15 minutes, especially at rest or with minimal exertion
• Shortness of breath with associated cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness
• Pain or discomfort radiating to arms, jaw, neck, shoulders, or upper back
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Unexplained fatigue or weakness

In cardiac arrest, a person suddenly collapses and has no pulse, often without warning. Occasionally, short-lived warning symptoms might occur, which include chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and light-headedness.

Misconception 4: Only People with Multiple Risk Factors Are at Risk

While certain factors increase risk, cardiac emergencies can affect anyone.

Risk factors for heart attack include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes mellitus
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidaemia)
• Family history of heart disease
• Obesity and lack of exercise
• Diet high in saturated fats
• Chronic stress and mental health conditions
• Inflammatory conditions

For cardiac arrest, pre-existing conditions that increase risk include:
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure, especially with severely reduced heart function
• Significant valvular heart disease
• Complex congenital heart disease
• Inherited arrhythmias
• Previous heart attack

Misconception 5: Wait and See if Symptoms Improve

Every minute of delay during a cardiac emergency can cause irreversible heart muscle damage or death.

If chest pain persists despite rest, seek immediate medical attention. Remember, driving yourself to the hospital during a suspected heart attack puts you and others at risk - always call emergency services.

For cardiac arrest, call 995 immediately. While waiting for emergency services, perform hands-only CPR and use an AED if one is available. These immediate actions can mean the difference between life and death.