Difference Between Heart Failure & Heart Attack

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Difference Between Heart Failure Heart Attack

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• It is easy for people to confuse between heart
  failure and heart attack. In certain ways, these
  conditions are similar, yet they also differ in
  some key areas. Once you understand the
  difference, you can be better prepared for your
  appointment at the best heart hospital in Mumbai.
  
• Here is how you can distinguish between a heart
  failure and heart attack.
• Difference in definition
• heart attack can be defined as a sudden blocking
  of the oxygen-rich blood to certain sections of
  the heart muscles. On the contrary, heart failure
  is a chronic and progressive condition where the
  heart is unable to pump adequate amount of blood
  to fulfill the body's requirement.
• A heart attack is also referred to as Myocardial
  Infarction or MI. In case you have been diagnosed
  with congestive cardiac failure (CCF) or
  congestive heart failure (CHF), then you have a
  heart failure condition.

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• Difference in timing
• Heart attacks will occur suddenly, whereas heart
  failure takes place over a prolonged period of
  time. In fact, heart attacks can also lead to
  heart failure, by making it weak and unable to
  pump enough blood to nourish the cells of the
  body.
• Heart attacks are usually a sudden occurrence,
  when the arteries of the heart become blocked. On
  the contrary, a heart failure can develop
  gradually over a longer period of time, as the
  muscles of the heart become steadily weaker.
• Difference in causes There is a marked
  difference in the causes of heart attacks and
  heart failures. Heart attacks are usually caused
  by a blood clot that is deposited in the coronary
  arteries. Whereas, heart failure may be the
  result of several underlying causes, such as
  Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arrhythmia,
  congenital heart diseases and others.

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• Persons who meet the below criteria have an
  increased chance of heart attack
• Obesity
• Smoking
• High levels of blood cholesterol
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High blood sugar
• Unhealthy diet

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• Risk factors for heart failure include
• Persons who are 65 years of age and above
• Overweight
• Previous history of heart attack
• Children suffering from congenital heart defects
• Difference in symptoms
• Apart from a few common symptoms such as
  shortness of breath and coughing, the symptoms of
  heart attack and heart failure vary greatly.

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• Heart attack symptoms include
• Mild to severe pains in the chest
• Severe indigestion
• Feeling as if heavy object has been placed on
  chest
• Squeezing pressure
• Feeling of having a tight band wound round the
  chest
• Sweating
• Swollen feet

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• On the contrary,heart failure signs include
• Loss of appetite
• A desire to urinate at night
• Weight gain
• Swollen feet
• Swollen liver

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• Difference in treatment
• Both heart attack and heart failure are extremely
  serious conditions, that require professional
  attention, especially from the best heart
  hospital in Mumbai. Treatments for heart failure
  and heart attack are quite different from one
  another, and also forms one of the key
  differences between the two.
• Treatment for heart attack would typically
  include
• Oxygen treatment
• Medication such as anticoagulants, beta blockers,
  ACE inhibitors
• Chest pain management
• Administration of Nitroglycerine to provide
  relief to the heart
• Angioplasty, for those requiring opening of
  narrowed or blocked arteries

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• On the other hand, a case of heart failure is
  usually treated by the following methods
• Lifestyle modifications
• Treatment of the underlying ailments
• Medication to treat the underlying causes

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