Michael Jackson's Death: The Difference Between Heart Attacks And Cardiac Arrest

Michael Jackson's Death: Why Cardiac Arrest Is Deadlier Than Heart Attack

Iconic pop star Michael Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest and died on Thursday at the age of 50. While details of his death have not yet been released, a cardiac arrest is generally much more dangerous than a heart attack.

During cardiac arrest, the heart actually stops beating and quivers with uncoordinated contractions. Unless a defibrillator is used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm, death is inevitable. Someone experiencing a cardiac arrest generally collapses, loses consciousness, and stops breathing.

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