Whats the difference between a Heart Attack and a Congestive Heart Failure?
Heart attack will usually destroy a part of the heart by the insult/injury depending on where it is or how severe – or occlude a coronary artery, etc. again rendering the heart muscle damaged in some cases. Congestive heart failure on the other hand is as I understand it fluid overload that taxes the heart, but can result in ankle swelling, severe shortness of breath, and can lead to heart attack if not treated. Both are probably equally life-threatening but a heart attack can sometimes be aborted if caught in time by treating – if not with medicines then with angioplasty or stenting quickly if the culprit vessel is found. Heart failure on the other hand requires longer treatment and usually involves heart meds and diuretics to unload all that extra fluid that is overtaxing the heart. That’s what I think anyhow.
