Cardiac Arrest is the condition in which your heart may lose its normal function suddenly and unexpectedly, and you can lose consciousness as well. It can be fatal because your heart can stop beating. You need immediate medical attention in such case within the first few minutes after the arrest occurs.
There are some electrical impulses that control the heartbeat. When there are some sudden changes in the pattern of these impulses, then your heartbeat becomes irregular. Cardiac arrest can occur when the rhythm of your heart stops completely.
Signs and Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
Apart from these warning signs, there can be symptoms like chest pain, missing of the pulse, no breathing or difficulty in breathing, become unconscious and collapse.
Causes and Risk Factors
There can be some factors that cause cardiac arrest, but ventricular and atrial fibrillation are the two most common causes for this heart issue. Large heart or coronary heart diseases are some of the risk factors for this ailment. Irregular heart valves can be a reason for the arrest too. Apart from that, congenital heath diseases can also cause cardiac arrest at any time. Smoking, male gender, high blood pressure, obesity are some other risks factors.
Medication, surgery, changes in lifestyle and diet, exercise are some of the solutions for cardiac arrest. However, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the emergency treatment for cardiac arrest once your heart stops beating. Apart from that, Defibrillation is another way to help your heart to start beating again.