Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 at his residence in Goa on Thursday, October 8 at 5:20 am after suffering a cardiac arrest. His son Malhar Patekar confirmed the death. Doctors attempted CPR for around 45 minutes, but the actor could not be revived. Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Chief of Oncology Department, Manipal Hospital, said that a medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted. Patekar's cause of death will be ascertained after the post-mortem.Patekar's death has once again sparked attention to cardiac arrest, a medical emergency that can strike suddenly. But cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, despite the two terms often being used interchangeably.What Is Cardiac Arrest?Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively to the brain and other vital organs. It is usually caused by an electrical malfunction that triggers a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia.Within seconds, a person may collapse, become unconscious and stop breathing normally. Without immediate treatment, cardiac arrest can become fatal within minutes.Unlike some medical conditions that produce warning symptoms before striking, cardiac arrest can happen abruptly, making rapid intervention crucial.Also read: When Do You Need A Heart Check-up?Cardiac Arrest Is Different From A Heart AttackBasically, a heart attack is primarily a blood-flow problem, while cardiac arrest is an electrical issue. During a heart attack, a blocked artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching part of the heart muscle. The heart usually continues beating. During cardiac arrest, however, the heart's electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops pumping blood.The two conditions are connected because a heart attack can sometimes trigger a cardiac arrest, although most heart attacks do not result in cardiac arrest.Also read: Innovations in Structural Heart Care: The Shift Towards Minimally Invasive TherapiesCPR Can Make A Significant DifferenceCardiac arrest requires immediate medical intervention. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, helps maintain blood flow to vital organs until the heart can be restarted.An automated external defibrillator, or AED, can analyse the heart's rhythm and deliver an electrical shock to restore a normal rhythm.The American Heart Association says immediate CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.If someone collapses suddenly and is unresponsive with no normal breathing, emergency medical services should be called immediately to start CPR. Risk Factors The risk of cardiovascular disease generally increases with age. Conditions like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and abnormalities of heart rhythm can contribute to serious cardiac events. Smoking is one of the major risk factors. There were no recent reports of Patekar's ill health. But in the past, he has spoken extensively about his heavy smoking history. According to the Indian Express, Patekar opened about smoking around 60 cigarettes a day. He said he smoked heavily until his mid-50s and eventually quit after a personal incident made him reconsider the habit. He later said he had remained smoke-free for around 20 years.Cardiac arrest is not exclusively a disease of older adults. It can occur in people with known heart disease as well as those who may not have previously been diagnosed with a heart condition.