Many people use the terms “heart attack” and “heart failure” interchangeably, but they represent distinct medical conditions. Understanding their differences is important for recognizing symptoms and seeking appropriate medical attention. While both are serious cardiac issues, their underlying mechanisms, onset, and long-term implications vary significantly.
What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack, medically known as a myocardial infarction, occurs as an acute event when blood flow to a section of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. This blockage most commonly results from a blood clot forming in a coronary artery narrowed by fatty deposits called plaque. When blood supply is cut off, the affected heart muscle, deprived of oxygen, begins to die.
Symptoms can appear suddenly and may include chest pain described as pressure, tightness, or squeezing across the chest. This discomfort can spread to an arm, jaw, neck, back, or stomach. Other signs may involve shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, or anxiety. Prompt emergency medical attention is important because treatment can significantly reduce heart muscle damage.
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition where the heart muscle becomes unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. Its pumping action becomes less efficient, either because it has become too weak or too stiff.
Symptoms typically develop gradually as the heart’s pumping ability declines. These include persistent fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, particularly during activity or when lying flat. Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet due to fluid buildup is common. Some individuals may also experience a persistent cough or rapid weight gain from fluid retention.
How They Differ and Connect
A heart attack is an acute event caused by a sudden lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to tissue damage. In contrast, heart failure is a chronic condition characterized by the heart’s impaired pumping function, which develops over time. The onset of symptoms for a heart attack is typically sudden and severe, demanding immediate medical intervention. Heart failure symptoms, however, usually appear gradually and worsen progressively.
Despite these distinctions, a significant connection exists: a heart attack can be a direct cause of heart failure. The damage inflicted on the heart muscle during a heart attack can weaken its pumping ability, potentially leading to heart failure, sometimes even years later. However, heart failure can also arise from other conditions that strain the heart over time, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, heart valve problems, or certain heart muscle diseases, without a preceding heart attack. Therefore, while they are not the same condition, one can contribute to the onset of the other.
Recognizing Symptoms and Getting Help
Recognizing the distinct symptoms of a heart attack versus heart failure is important for timely and appropriate medical response. For a suspected heart attack, symptoms like sudden chest pain, radiating discomfort, shortness of breath, or cold sweats require immediate emergency medical attention. Calling emergency services ensures rapid transport and access to interventions that can restore blood flow and preserve heart muscle. Diagnostic tools for a heart attack typically involve an electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests to detect specific cardiac enzymes.
For heart failure, the symptoms are generally more gradual and progressive, such as increasing fatigue, persistent shortness of breath with exertion, and swelling in the lower extremities. While not an immediate emergency like a heart attack, these signs warrant a medical consultation to assess heart function and determine a management plan. Diagnosis often includes a physical examination, blood tests (including B-type natriuretic peptide), an ECG, and an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to visualize the heart’s structure and pumping action.