Get all the facts on cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest is termed as a failure of the heart to contract effectively resulting in a cessation in the circulation of the blood in the body. This is a life threatening situation and warrants immediate medical attention as soon as the first signs of a cardiac arrest are evident.

When a cardiac arrest occurs suddenly, it is called sudden cardiac arrest. This is an unexpected condition and therefore a reason for a lot of alarm. A cardiac arrest may cause the heart to beat faster or slower. However a sudden cardiac arrest is characterized by complete failure of the heart to beat.

Cardiac arrest could result in prevention of blood circulation and as, blood carries oxygen to different parts of the body, there will be severe oxygen depletion in the body. The oxygen deprivation is especially dangerous in the brain as it could affect the normal brain activity. When a cardiac arrest is left untreated for longer than 5 minutes, severe brain injury leading to death may result.

The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are very crucial and cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the first treatment that is provided to the patient. CPR is carried out to provide circulatory support to the patient and aid in the circulation of blood that would carry oxygen to the various parts of the body. This should be administered as soon as cardiac arrest has been identified to minimize brain injury caused due to a lack of oxygen. After the administration of CPR, the physician will look for a shockable rhythm in the patient. If this is found then defibrillation is carried out, defibrillation is the process of administering controlled shock to the patient. In the absence of a shockable rhythm, the chances of survival are nil.

The first signs of a cardiac arrest are that the person looses consciousness almost immediately and there is lack of breathing. However, if immediate CPR is administered the chances of survival are high. Therefore CPR is a mandatory first aid that should be understood and that which everyone should be trained in. The large amount of awareness that is created to help everyone understand the importance of CPR is aimed at imparting the necessary skill in every individual in case the need to help a fellow human being in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest arises. Reports of people succumbing to cardiac arrest in malls, concerts and even railway stations hit the headlines very often. When every individual is taught the steps involved in CPR, such people who are affected by cardiac arrest will be provided with the necessary support till a fully qualified medical team can reach their side.

The symptoms of cardiac arrest are generally seen in people who have cardiac ailments, though this may also be witnessed in certain other conditions. A cardiac arrest is expected in cases of serious illness. Apart from previous cardiac illness, there are many risk factors that are associated with cardiac arrest. Smoking is considered as one of the leading causes of cardiac arrest and is commonly implicated. A family history could increase the risk of a person being subjected to cardiac arrest. Lack of physical activity or obesity is other leading risk factors that are considered to increase the risk of a cardiac arrest.

A cardiac arrest may also be caused in the event of an electric shock, drowning or even due to the intake of toxins or tablets. Hypothermic cardiac arrest is caused due to a low core body temperature and may be witnessed if the person is subjected to extremely low temperatures for a period of time.

The signs of cardiac arrest in women are similar to those seen in men and are characterized by a sudden chest pain or even numbness that is felt in one part of the body. Difficulties to breathe or to speak are other symptoms of a cardiac arrest that are witnessed. The person who undergoes a cardiac arrest will be unresponsive even when tapped on the shoulder. When such signs of cardiac arrest are detected, the person should be rushed to a medical facility.

As the heart stops beating in the case of a sudden cardiac arrest, many rescuers fail to recognize the symptoms and tend to declare the person dead. Therefore, international bodies state that a qualified medical person should be the one to determine if a person is still alive, as a weak pulse may be detected. Other signs of cardiac arrest that one could look out for include mild twitching or even coughing.

Prevention of a cardiac arrest is the best way and this should be carried out by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Drinking alcohol and smoking should be completely avoided. A balanced diet should be consumed at all times and one should follow a regular exercise regime in order to lower the chances of a cardiac arrest. Women tend to ignore their health but should be encouraged to follow such simple steps that would help in reducing the chances of cardiac arrest signs in women.

For those who have undergone a cardiac arrest and survived, it should be understood that many other people who have survived a cardiac arrest have been able to lead a normal life by having a balanced diet and by making exercise a part of their daily life. The level of exercise should, however, be determined only after consultation with a good cardiologist.


Continue to : Treatment for Arrhythmias

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