Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: Australians Still Confuse the Two

A 2024 Heart Foundation survey found that 58% of Australians could not correctly distinguish between a heart attack and cardiac arrest — two very different events that require very different responses. This confusion is not a minor knowledge gap. In an emergency, responding to a cardiac arrest as if it were a heart attack, or vice versa, wastes critical minutes and can reduce the chance of a good outcome.

Cardiac Arrest: When the Heart Stops

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops pumping blood effectively. The person collapses suddenly, becomes unresponsive, and stops breathing normally (they may have agonal — gasping — breaths). There is no warning, no conversation, no time for decisions. The required response is immediate: call 000, begin CPR, and attach an AED as quickly as possible. Every second without CPR increases brain damage. Cardiac arrest is the medical emergency that first aid training prepares you for.

Heart Attack: When Blood Supply Is Blocked

A heart attack is a different event. It occurs when a blockage in a coronary artery cuts off blood supply to part of the heart muscle, causing tissue damage. The person is usually conscious and can describe their symptoms: chest pain or tightness (often described as pressure, squeezing, or heaviness), pain radiating to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and dizziness. A heart attack is serious and requires urgent medical care — call 000 — but the person is still breathing and conscious, and CPR is not the immediate priority.

Warning Signs in Women That Are Routinely Missed

Women are significantly more likely than men to present with atypical heart attack symptoms. While chest pain is common in both, women more frequently experience unusual fatigue, shortness of breath without chest pain, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw pain, and a vague sense that something is wrong. These symptoms are often attributed to stress, anxiety, or other conditions, leading to delayed treatment. If in doubt, call 000 — paramedics would rather respond to a false alarm than a delayed heart attack.

Matching the Framework to the Emergency

The DRSABCD action plan applies to cardiac arrest — an unresponsive, non-breathing patient. The FAST acronym (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 000) is designed for stroke recognition. For a conscious person with chest pain, the appropriate response is calling 000, keeping them calm and still, loosening tight clothing, and being ready to begin CPR if they lose consciousness. Knowing which framework to apply — and why — is one of the core skills taught in Horizon Training's first aid courses.

Sources and further reading

• Heart attack — Heart Foundation
• Cardiac arrest — Heart Foundation
• ANZCOR Guideline 8: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation — Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation