There is a difference between heart attack and heart failure, however both are forms of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease (which includes heart failure and heart attack) is the most common cause of death in the United States. Approximately 71 million Americans have one or more type of cardiovascular disease, with 40% of them over age 65 years. Each year 450,000 deaths due to heart attack and heart failure occur before patients can reach a hospital or emergency room.
Coronary artery disease (blockage of the arteries supplying blood to the heart) can result in a myocardial infarction (commonly known as “heart attack”). The blockage is a result of multiple factors including narrowing of the arteries from plaque (calcium and cholesterol), inflammation of the arteries, and a blood clot in the area of the narrowing, leading to blockage of blood flow. The result can be death of heart tissue or as it’s called, a heart attack.
Medicine now has numerous treatments for heart attack, from drugs that can break up a clot and open an artery, to placement of a stent in the coronary arteries (a small tube that is inserted in the area of narrowing to open blood flow). These treatments frequently can stop a heart attack or minimize damage to the heart.
Congestive heart failure is a form of cardiovascular disease that results in the decreased ability of the heart to pump blood forward or the ability to fill the heart with blood in a cyclical manner. Heart failure can result from a heart attack, but also from chronic uncontrolled high blood pressure, or heart valve disease.
The incidence of heart failure has tripled in the past decade, partly related to our aging population and the treatment of chronic cardiovascular disease. If the heart cannot effectively pump blood out of the arteries and to the vital organs, these organs will be damaged. In addition, fluid will start to collect in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath and loss of good air exchange (oxygen for carbon dioxide) that leads to tissue damage. Modern medicine has multiple medications, defibrillators, pacemakers, and other assist devices available to stabilize congestive heart failure.
Cardiovascular disease is more common in certain ethic groups like American Indians and African Americans. Other major risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
The common symptoms of a cardiac event may include chest pain or pressure and shortness of breath. The key is to get treatment early by getting to a hospital as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.
