What's the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Sorry to post such a sadistic question, but I couldn't help but wonder, what is the difference between having a heart attack, and cardiac arrest? Which one is worse? What causes cardiac arrest? (I know that eating fattening foods, stress, and anger can lead to a heart attack). Also, which one is worse?

I know there's a few posters on here who are experienced in the medical field, so I just thought I'd ask. Thanks. :)

[charlene]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrest

Cardiac arrest
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 I46.
ICD-9 427.5
MeSH D006323
A cardiac arrest, also known as cardiac arress, cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively during systole.[1]

A cardiac arrest is different from (but may be caused by) a heart attack or myocardial infarction, where blood flow to the still-beating heart, is interrupted.

"Arrested" blood circulation prevents delivery of oxygen to all parts of the body. Cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen supply to the brain, causes victims to lose consciousness and to stop normal breathing, although agonal breathing may still occur. Brain injury is likely if cardiac arrest is untreated for more than 5 minutes,[2] although new treatments such as induced hypothermia have begun to extend this time.[3][4] To improve survival and neurological recovery immediate response is paramount.[5]

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, in certain groups of patients, is potentially reversible if treated early enough (See "Reversible causes" below). When unexpected cardiac arrest leads to death this is called sudden cardiac death (SCD).[1] The primary first-aid treatment for cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (commonly known as CPR) which provides circulatory support until availability of definitive medical treatment, which will vary dependent on the rhythm the heart is exhibiting, but often requires defibrillation.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Thanks, Char. So cardiac arrest is when the heart itself stops working (whereas heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is interrupted).