Cardiac arrest and heart attack are distinct heart complications but people often refer to them interchangeably.

The American Heart Association describes a cardiac arrest as an "electrical" problem and a heart attack as a "plumbing" problem.

The association says a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly.

A heart attack on the other hand occurs when blood flow to the heart stops as a result of a blocked artery which prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart.

This is because death may occur within minutes of the occurrence of the complications if medical treatment is not initiated immediately.

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