Between Your Awareness and Your Pulse… A Difference That Could Save Your Life

As part of its efforts to raise public health awareness, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has urged citizens to recognize the early signs of a heart attack and distinguish them from sudden cardiac arrest—an essential difference that can save lives through swift and appropriate action.

In an awareness post on its official X account, the NHS asked:
“Can you tell the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest? Learn the symptoms, be ready to act correctly, and help us spread this life-saving information.”

The NHS explained that sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops pumping blood, leading to loss of consciousness and either no breathing or severely impaired breathing. This is an extreme emergency where every second matters between life and death.

The NHS emphasized the importance of quick intervention and outlined the steps to follow if cardiac arrest is suspected:

1. Ensure the area is safe and free from danger before taking any action.

2. Check the person’s responsiveness by calling out to them and gently shaking their shoulders.

3. Call emergency services immediately or ask someone nearby to do so.

4. Open the airway by slightly tilting the head backward.

5. Check for breathing by observing chest movements or listening for abnormal breathing sounds.

6. If there is no normal breathing, begin chest compressions immediately.

In contrast, the NHS clarified that a heart attack does not mean the heart has stopped. It results from a blockage in one of the coronary arteries. The person is usually conscious but experiences serious symptoms requiring urgent intervention, including:

A crushing or squeezing pain in the center of the chest.

Dizziness or feeling faint.

Difficulty breathing.

Pain spreading to the left arm or jaw.

Excessive sweating.

Nausea or vomiting.

Sudden wheezing or coughing.

If these signs appear, the NHS advises to:

Call emergency services right away.

Keep the person in a comfortable position without giving them food or drink.

Give them a 300 mg aspirin tablet to chew slowly, provided they are not allergic, have no medical contraindications, and are over 16 years of age.