As a man, you are more likely to experience a heart attack or a cardiac arrest than a woman. Although colloquially heart attack and cardiac arrest are used interchangeably, they are very different conditions.

A heart attack is a result of a blocked artery that prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the heart. When this block is not removed promptly, it can cause the part of the heart that is normally nourished by that artery to die. The longer a person goes without treatment, the greater the damage.

A cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function because of a malfunction of the electrical signals in the heart. When the normal pumping of heart goes away, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and other organs and consciousness may be lost.

Risk Factors

The risk of developing heart disease is particularly high in those who have a family history of heart disease or a history of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity. Other risk factors include diabetes, alcohol use and age.

Fortunately, a lot of research has been done on how men’s heart react during heart attacks.

Symptoms Of Heart Attack & Cardiac Arrest

When you have an acute heart condition such as a heart attack or cardiac arrest, you may experience these symptoms:

• Chest pain or pressure, a heavy sensation on your chest coupled with a squeezing sensation that may either come and go in waves or remain constant and intense.
• Discomfort or pain  in the upper body, including arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• A quick or irregular heartbeat in the absence of exertion.
• An uneasy sensation in the stomach that may feel like indigestion.
• A feeling of breathlessness which may feel like you can’t get enough air.

Association Of Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest & Sexual Dysfunction

In many men, there is an overlap in the mechanisms that contribute to heart attack or cardiac arrest and sexual dysfunction. The most common sexual dysfunction issue that occurs in men with heart disease is erectile dysfunction (ED). In some cases, experiencing ED can be a warning sign of an underlying heart condition.

Heart attacks usually occur when there is build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries. This can reduce blood flow to the heart, as well as other areas. Similarly, a healthy blood flow is also required for achieving an erection and an obstruction in blood flow can result in erectile dysfunction.

Cardiac arrests may result from abnormal electrical signals to the heart or abnormal contractions of smooth muscles in the inner lining of the heart. Research indicates, that a similar mechanism can also result in erectile dysfunction. The abnormal contraction of the inner lining of the blood vessels can result in inadequate blood supply to the penis, making it difficult to achieve an erection.

Additionally, some medications that are used to treat heart conditions can contribute to both erectile dysfunction and loss of libido amongst men.

Reach out to your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above conditions.