A sudden cardiac arrest is a catastrophic event that one can encounter at any time and there are various factors responsible for a sudden cardiac arrest. A sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. A heart attack happens when the blood flow to the heart is blocked for some reason, on the other hand, a sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops functioning and the blood flow to different vital organs gets stopped. Sudden cardiac arrest can cause death within a few minutes if it occurs outside of a hospital. Connect with Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital, which provides 24x7 medical assistance and emergency services to minimize the damage caused by sudden cardiac arrest.

What Causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

The human heart consists of an electrical system that is responsible for maintaining the rhythm of heartbeats. When any malfunction occurs in that electrical system, it hampers the rhythmic activity of the heartbeats causing a medical condition known as arrhythmia.

There are various types of arrhythmia and one of those types is called Ventricular fibrillation in which the lower two chambers of the human heart known as ventricles start to quiver extremely fast, pumping oxygen-rich blood inefficiently to the vital organs of the body. Ventricular fibrillation is responsible for most of the sudden cardiac arrests and without immediate treatment can lead to sudden death. Another common type of arrhythmia is Atrial fibrillation, which causes the heart to beat at an extreme speed, in this condition both upper and lower chambers fail to work together.

Risk Factors Responsible for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

There are several factors responsible for sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some factors listed below which can increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Coronary Artery Disease

Most of the victims of sudden cardiac arrest are found to be patients with coronary artery disease, which is a condition in which heart arteries become narrow or blocked due to the build-up of plaque, which is made up of fat, cholesterol, or other substances. It prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching heart muscles.

Enlarged Heart

An enlarged heart can also put someone at high risk of experiencing a sudden cardiac heart, it is a condition known as cardiomyopathy. It causes the heart to beat abnormally.

Congenital Heart Disease

Some people are born with heart conditions known as congenital heart disease. Sudden cardiac arrest may occur in children and young adults who were born with congenital heart disease.

Electrical Impulse Issue

Any malfunction within the heart’s electrical system increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Other Risk Factors

Other risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol level
• Family history of heart diseases
• Drug abuse
• Certain medicines
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Heart attacks
• Respiratory conditions

Warning Signs to Look For

In many cases of sudden cardiac arrest, warning signs and symptoms are present beforehand but in some cases of sudden cardiac arrest, there are no early signs and warnings present. Many a time these signs are ignored or misunderstood by people. Still, one should be aware of these signs to seek medical treatment immediately to prevent sudden cardiac arrest.

Signs and symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Extreme tiredness
• Chest discomfort
• Racing heart or heart palpitations
• Loss of consciousness/Sudden Collapse
• No pulse/No breathing

Precautions and Steps to Take

Cardiac arrest can strike without any warning or prior notice to any person and quick medical attention is required to save the life. A person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest may lose consciousness and can collapse breathing abnormally. The two most effective forms of emergency treatment for sudden cardiac arrest are cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) and another is defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator(AED). These emergency treatments can bring someone’s heartbeat again once it has stopped.

Steps to take:

• Call an ambulance.
• Start CPR if the person is unconscious and stops breathing, push hard and fast at the rate of 100 to 120 pushes a minute at the person’s chest.
• Use an automated external defibrillator, if one is available.

Precautions to take:

• Eat healthy
• Exercise regularly
• Manage blood pressure
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol
• Manage stress
• Get regular check-ups

Conclusion

A sudden Cardiac arrest can be fatal and often occurs without warning so recognizing and understanding the signs and symptoms beforehand could help in reducing the damage it can cause. Understanding the risk factors such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart problems and structural heart issues can play a crucial role in early detection and prevention. Other risk factors such as smoking, abnormal blood pressure and cholesterol levels can also cause a sudden cardiac arrest and one can prevent them from experiencing one by adopting some preventive measures, including regular check-ups, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and many more things. Sudden cardiac arrest requires quick medical attention to reduce the damage level it can cause. Contact Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital, which provides 24x7 medical assistance and emergency services.