Sudden cardiac arrest vs heart attack in Mohali: difference & emergency response

A practical, patient-friendly guide to recognising the signs, delivering the immediate response and understanding the emergency cardiac care options available at Livasa Hospitals Mohali.

Introduction

Cardiovascular emergencies can be sudden, frightening and life-threatening. Two terms that are often used interchangeably by the public but mean very different events are heart attack (myocardial infarction) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Understanding the difference is essential for the right immediate action, survival, and long-term care. This distinction is especially important in cities like Mohali, Punjab, where rapid bystander response and timely access to an ACLS trained team and a code blue hospital Mohali can dramatically alter outcomes.

This guide explains what each condition is, how they present, how to respond immediately—whether you are a bystander, family member, or patient—and the emergency cardiac care available in Mohali. It also highlights how Livasa Hospitals Mohali approaches sudden cardiac arrest treatment in Mohali and heart attack emergency care in Punjab, including availability of 24/7 cardiac emergency Mohali services, emergency angioplasty Mohali, and the role of AEDs and CPR.

What is sudden cardiac arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an electrical problem of the heart in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When SCA occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs within seconds. Unless immediate action is taken—typically cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation—death can follow within minutes.

Causes: SCA often arises from a sudden arrhythmia, most commonly ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The most frequent underlying cause in adults is coronary artery disease, but other causes include:

• Acute myocardial ischemia or infarction triggering fatal arrhythmia
• Cardiomyopathy (dilated, hypertrophic, arrhythmogenic)
• Inherited channelopathies (e.g., long QT, Brugada syndrome)
• Severe electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity
• Structural heart disease, myocarditis, or severe heart failure

Symptoms and warning signs: SCA is usually abrupt. A person may suddenly collapse, become unresponsive and stop breathing normally. There may be no prior chest pain or warning in many cases. If you observe sudden collapse, absence of pulse, loss of consciousness—treat as SCA and start immediate action.

Statistics and survival: Globally, out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest survival to hospital discharge varies widely (generally between 5% to 15% where robust systems exist). In India and many parts of Punjab, out-of-hospital survival rates are lower due to delays in recognition, limited AED access and delayed advanced care; published estimates put survival in many Indian cities under 6%. Livasa Hospitals Mohali focuses on bridging this gap by improving bystander CPR training Mohali and by maintaining an ACLS trained team and code blue protocol hospital Mohali for rapid in-hospital resuscitation.

What is a heart attack (myocardial infarction)?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), is a circulation problem. It occurs when a coronary artery becomes blocked—usually due to rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque and a forming blood clot—reducing blood flow to part of the heart muscle. Without prompt restoration of blood flow, the affected heart muscle begins to die.

Causes and common triggers:

• Atherosclerotic plaque rupture with thrombosis
• Severe coronary artery spasm
• Embolic occlusion of coronary arteries
• Severe anaemia or oxygen demand-supply mismatch in high-risk hearts

Symptoms: Heart attack symptoms often develop over minutes to hours. Classic signs include:

• Chest pain or discomfort—pressure, squeezing, or heavy ache, often radiating to the left arm, jaw, neck or back
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, sweating, lightheadedness
• Unexplained fatigue or palpitations

Many people—especially women, older adults and people with diabetes—have atypical symptoms (indigestion, mild discomfort, or only breathlessness). A heart attack may progress to complications that include heart failure, serious arrhythmias and, in some cases, sudden cardiac arrest. That is why early recognition and rapid transfer to a hospital with emergency angioplasty Mohali capability or thrombolysis is critical.

Local and global burden: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. In India, coronary artery disease prevalence and heart attack incidence have been rising for decades—Punjab reports some of the higher regional rates of coronary disease in India. Prompt chest pain triage and transfer to centres such as Livasa Hospitals Mohali helps reduce time-to-treatment and improves outcomes.

Key differences between sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack

Understanding the differences helps families and bystanders act correctly: a heart attack is a circulation problem that can lead to SCA, whereas SCA is an electrical problem that causes immediate collapse. The following table summarises important distinctions, followed by expanded details to help you recognise and respond.

In practice, a patient having chest pain should be treated as a heart attack until proven otherwise and transported quickly to an emergency cardiac care centre. If a person collapses suddenly and is unresponsive with absent breathing, treat for SCA: start CPR and use an AED if available while calling emergency services.

Immediate response and first aid: what to do in Mohali

Rapid bystander action saves lives. Whether you are in Mohali, elsewhere in Punjab, or visiting, know these essential steps to respond to a suspected heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest. The suggestions below include practical directions for bystanders and family members until professional help—ambulance or hospital—arrives.

If someone has chest pain or symptoms of heart attack (but is conscious):

• Call local emergency services immediately and tell them it might be a heart attack emergency. If you are in Mohali, call the local ambulance or ask your local emergency number for fastest transport to a nearest hospital for heart attack Mohali.
• Make the person sit comfortably, reassure them and loosen tight clothing.
• If they are prescribed nitroglycerin, assist them to take it. Do not give any medication except aspirin if they are not allergic—chewable 300 mg is usually recommended while awaiting medical help unless contraindicated.
• Monitor consciousness, breathing and pulse; be ready to start CPR if they suddenly collapse.

If someone collapses suddenly and is unresponsive (possible SCA):

1. Check responsiveness: Tap and shout. If no response, proceed immediately.
2. Call for help: Shout for assistance and call emergency services right away—tell the dispatcher you suspect cardiac arrest and ask them to send an ambulance to your location in Mohali. If possible, instruct someone else to call while you begin CPR.
3. Start chest compressions: Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest and the other hand on top. Compress hard and fast—about 5–6 cm depth and 100–120 compressions per minute (to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” or similar). Allow full chest recoil between compressions.
4. Call for an AED (automated external defibrillator): If an AED is available nearby—use it as soon as it arrives. Many public buildings and some hospitals in Mohali may have AEDs. Search “AED near me Mohali” or ask bystanders.
5. Continue CPR until help arrives: If trained, provide rescue breaths in a 30:2 ratio (30 compressions to 2 breaths). If untrained, continuous chest compressions are still highly effective until professional rescuers take over.

Livasa Hospitals Mohali emphasises community education—bystander CPR training Mohali and public awareness about AED locations can drastically increase the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest in Punjab. If an AED is used, follow voice prompts; many people survive when CPR plus early defibrillation is delivered within minutes.

Hospital emergency response in Mohali: code blue and ACLS teams

When a patient arrives at an emergency department after a heart attack or with a cardiac arrest, hospital systems must act immediately. Livasa Hospitals Mohali operates with a dedicated code blue protocol hospital Mohali and an ACLS trained team in Livasa Mohali to manage cardiac emergencies 24/7. These teams are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) to deliver evidence-based algorithms for arrhythmia management, airway control, drug therapy and post-resuscitation care.

Typical in-hospital response steps:

• Immediate triage and rapid assessment of airway, breathing and circulation.
• Continuous high-quality chest compressions and defibrillation as required using monitored pads or manual defibrillators.
• Advanced airway management and oxygenation, intravenous access and administration of ACLS drugs.
• Rapid diagnosis with ECG, blood tests (cardiac biomarkers) and bedside echocardiography if required.
• Activation of the cath lab for emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) if ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is suspected—this is the most effective emergency angioplasty Mohali can provide to restore blood flow.

Facilities and capabilities at Livasa Hospitals Mohali for emergency cardiac care Punjab:

• 24/7 cardiac emergency Mohali reception and triage
• ACLS trained team in Livasa Mohali and on-call cardiology specialists
• Code blue implementation and in-hospital resuscitation protocols
• Emergency angioplasty (primary PCI) capability and dedicated cath lab
• Intensive cardiac care unit (CCU) and post-resuscitation monitoring

These systems reduce delays in reperfusion and raise survival chances for both heart attack and SCA patients. For families in Mohali seeking immediate help, call Livasa Hospitals Mohali at +91 80788 80788 or book online: https://www.livasahospitals.com/appointment.

Treatment options and post-resuscitation care

Emergency cardiac care focuses on stabilising the patient, restoring blood flow (for heart attacks), treating arrhythmias (for SCA), and preventing complications. Below is an overview of common treatments, and a comparison table to help patients and families understand differences in approach and expected recovery.

Post-resuscitation care includes intensive monitoring, repair or treatment of the underlying cause, prevention of recurrent arrhythmias (medications, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator—ICD—when indicated), cardiac rehabilitation, lifestyle counselling and long-term secondary prevention with medicines such as antiplatelets, statins, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors where appropriate.

For patients in Mohali and across Punjab, emergency cardiac care Punjab at Livasa Hospitals aims to coordinate rapid reperfusion for heart attack emergencies and expert ACLS-based resuscitation for SCA. Advanced options—such as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)—may be considered in selected cases where available and appropriate.

Cost considerations: heart attack treatment cost in Mohali

Cost is an important practical consideration for many families when planning emergency care. In Mohali, treatment costs vary widely depending on the diagnosis, interventions required (primary PCI vs thrombolysis), length of stay, and need for ICU care or complex devices such as stents or ICDs. Below is a comparative table with typical ranges to help families prepare; these are indicative figures and can vary by hospital and clinical complexity.

Livasa Hospitals Mohali offers guidance on financing options, insurance coordination and counselling at arrival to ensure families understand expected costs. Always confirm costs and package options with the hospital billing team. Remember, the priority in a life-threatening heart attack emergency is timely treatment—delays to arrange finances should be avoided if possible.

Prevention, risk reduction and community steps in Punjab

Preventing heart attacks and reducing sudden cardiac arrest risk requires a community and individual approach. In Punjab—including Mohali—cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent. Effective prevention targets high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, unhealthy diet, obesity and physical inactivity.

Practical prevention steps:

• Regular health checks: Blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile and BMI screening—early detection reduces long-term risk.
• Medication adherence: For patients with hypertension, diabetes or prior heart disease, consistent use of prescribed drugs (statins, antihypertensives, antiplatelets) reduces heart attack risk.
• Lifestyle modification: Stop tobacco use, adopt a heart-healthy diet (reduced saturated fats, salt moderation), maintain regular physical activity, and manage stress.
• Bystander training: Expand CPR training Mohali and public AED programs—community CPR increases SCA survival.
• Public awareness: Educate communities to recognise heart attack symptoms vs SCA and to call emergency services immediately.

Livasa Hospitals Mohali participates in community outreach, bystander CPR training and screening camps to improve early detection and build community readiness for cardiac emergencies. Prevention is the most cost-effective and humane approach to reduce heart attack burden across Punjab.

When to seek help and frequently asked questions

Recognising the right time to seek care can save lives. Below are practical answers to common questions patients and families in Mohali ask about heart attack emergencies and SCA.

Q: When should I call an ambulance for heart attack Mohali?

If you or someone has chest pain, pressure, breathlessness, fainting or sudden severe discomfort—call emergency services immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital if you are unstable; use ambulance services with medical support en route.

Q: How should I perform CPR until ambulance arrives Mohali?

• Check responsiveness and breathing.
• Call emergency services and request an AED.
• Start chest compressions at 100–120/min, depth ~5–6 cm; allow full recoil.
• If trained, use a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio. If not trained, continue hands-only CPR.
• Continue until trained help or ambulance arrives or the person shows signs of life.

Q: Is there an AED near me in Mohali?

Public AED availability is increasing. Ask at major malls, airports, large hotels and hospitals. Livasa Mohali encourages businesses and public centres to install AEDs and trains staff in their use. Call +91 80788 80788 for guidance on AED locations and CPR training Mohali.

Q: What is the cardiac arrest survival rate Mohali?

Survival depends on immediacy of CPR, early defibrillation and rapid advanced care. Out-of-hospital survival in Indian cities historically ranges from very low percentages to higher numbers where public CPR and AED programs exist. In-hospital survival improves with robust code blue protocols and ACLS-trained teams, such as those at Livasa Hospitals Mohali.

Q: How can families prepare for heart emergencies?

• Know the emergency number and nearest hospital with cath lab capabilities.
• Keep contact and medical history ready for family members with heart disease.
• Learn basic CPR and AED use; consider enrolling in bystander CPR training Mohali.
• Maintain medications and control risk factors with your healthcare provider.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. For specific medical concerns or emergencies in Mohali, contact Livasa Hospitals Mohali at the number above or proceed to the nearest emergency department.