How does cardiac arrest differ from a heart attack?

Cardiac arrest and heart attacks are indeed distinct conditions with different underlying mechanisms, which is why the distinction in the first choice is important. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system fails, leading to a cessation of effective heart contractions and stopping blood circulation. This is categorized as a rhythm problem, as it is related to the heart's electrical activity and can result in a lack of blood flow to vital organs, leading to collapse and loss of consciousness.

On the other hand, a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, primarily occurs due to a blockage in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, usually caused by a blood clot. This blockage prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching parts of the heart, which can lead to damage or death of heart muscle tissue.

Understanding these differences is crucial as they lead to different immediate management strategies. For example, cardiac arrest often requires immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, while a heart attack might be treated with medications, such as thrombolytics, and surgical interventions, like angioplasty, to restore blood flow.

The misconceptions mentioned in the other choices do not accurately describe the nature of these conditions or their medical implications. Cardiac arrest can occur at