There was a lot of buzz around the International Hypertension Day on May 17, with many clinics offering free heart check up and providing analysis based on your condition. Shalini Saksena spoke with Dr Gambhir to know about what differentiates heart failure from sudden cardiac arrest
Heart related problems are on the rise and so are heart attacks among the young. Hence, it is very important to be able to diagnose the symptoms before it is too late. But before one can do that, it is necessary to know the difference between a heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest.
“Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. As a result, the heart can’t pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body’s needs. Though the heart chambers may respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming stiff and thickened to keep the blood moving, but the heart muscle walls eventually weaken. Heart failure can’t be termed as a disease but is a chronic syndrome that generally develops slowly,’ Dr DS Gambhir director, Kailash Hospital & Heart Institute, Noida says.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) on the other hand is a life-threatening condition when the heart abruptly stops functioning without any warning. It is the sudden unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. Death occurs due to the malfunctioning of the heart’s electrical system and may affect a person with or without prior diagnosed cardiac diseases. The unexpected death, occurring usually within 60 minutes from onset of the symptoms, stops the blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.
However, timely detection can go a long way in saving a life. “Sudden cardiac arrest symptoms are immediate and drastic which include sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing and loss of consciousness. But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning. Heart failure symptoms aren’t always obvious. But, they can be severe. The heart’s inability to efficiently pump blood and supply your organs, one may experience a number of symptoms like dyspnea (shortness of breath from any type of exertion), edema (swelling usually of the feet and the ankles), fatigue, difficulty sleeping at night due to breathing problems, swollen or tender abdomen, loss of appetite, increased urination at night, confusion and impaired memory,” Dr Gambhir tells you, adding that that there are many diagnostic tests available to find out whether it is a heart failure or SCA.
Some of the tests used are: Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress test and angiogram (coronary catheterisation).
DIl SE
Causes — Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The immediate cause of sudden cardiac arrest is usually an abnormality in the heart rhythm (arrhythmia), the result of a problem with the heart's electrical system. When this occurs, the heart is unable to pump blood and death will occur within minutes, if left untreated. VF accounts for around 80% of all SCAs.
Causes — Heart Failure
Chronic high blood pressure
Coronary artery disease
A previous heart attack
Diseased heart valves
Diabetes
Who is at riskIJ
75 per cent of Sudden Cardiac Arrests are linked to previous heart attack
Clogged arteries make it harder for the heart to conduct electrical impulses smoothly
Genetic reasons put even the younger generation at risk
Those who smoke, have high blood pressure are cholestrol, are obese and lead a sedentary lifestyle and are alcoholics are at a great risk