Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood throughout the body. The brain and other vital organs become deprived of blood and oxygen, and this leads to death without treatment. Cardiac arrest is typically related to other kinds of heart arrhythmias, but it can also be caused by congenital heart defects and heart disease. Cardia arrest is life-threatening and needs emergency medical attention.
The most common symptoms of cardiac arrest are:
In some cases, this condition can have mild warning signs before a full attack takes place. Some people experience flu-like symptoms, others have back pain, and some people have nausea and vomiting. Chest pain might also be a symptom, or the patient might report feeling dizzy or feeling like the heart is racing or fluttering.
The primary cause of cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, which are both types of heart arrhythmias. These can be related to various heart conditions, but heart arrhythmias can also happen spontaneously.
Binge drinking or drinking too much caffeine can also lead to cardiac arrest, and heavy exertion can cause this heart problem as well. In some cases, taking cocaine, amphetamines, or marijuana can be related to a cardiac event of this type. Severe emotional distress and having a recent flu infection can also lead to cardiac arrest in some cases.
The risk factors for this condition are:
Cardiac arrest is almost always an emergency. The doctors at the emergency room will usually perform life-saving treatment before making any other diagnosis. Most diagnosis processes are done after the person has been brought back to a stable condition. In some cases, cardiac arrest happens while someone is in the hospital having surgery or another procedure.
Tests like cardiac catheterization might be done to visualise the heart. ECG and EKG can be done to check heart function. Blood tests might be done to see if there are markers indicating that heart tissue death has occurred. Heart tests like stress testing and imaging of various kinds can be done to see if the heart is functioning properly again.
Heart-healthy living can help to prevent this health condition in some people. You should be sure to eat a healthy diet that is low in salt, be active on a daily basis, and make sure that you do not smoke or drink alcohol every day. Speaking with your doctor about the best ways to prevent heart disease and treat underlying conditions like diabetes that can lead to cardiac arrest is a good idea.
Treatment for cardiac arrest is done on an emergency basis. This condition is fatal unless treatment is applied right away. If you are with someone who is in cardiac arrest, you need to call for emergency assistance right away. Calling 112 is essential, and if you know how to perform CPR, you should begin immediately. Some buildings have an emergency AED (automated external defibrillator) to restart the heart. The person using the device can “call” to talk to someone who can help them use the device to save the life of someone experiencing this medical emergency.
If you have been brought to the emergency room in cardiac arrest, the staff there will use a defibrillator to restart your heart. Naloxone is often also given to those in cardiac arrest by first responders if there is a chance that the cardiac arrest has been caused by opioid overdose.
In most cases, oxygen therapy will be given to those who have been treated for cardiac arrest, and targeted temperature management might be used to help lower the body temperature to prevent damage to the brain. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment is also used in some cases to pump blood through an artificial lung to add oxygen to it before returning it to the body.