Someone who experiences cardiac arrest will collapse and become unresponsive almost immediately. She will not respond to taps on the shoulder or verbal commands. Pulse and breathing will be non-existent or extremely faint (with perhaps some shallow gasping for air). The clock begins ticking at once — brain damage can begin almost immediately, and death can occur within four to six minutes. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source
Call 911 or your emergency services number immediately Get an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if one is close by, and use it according to its instructions; Begin “hands-only” CPR, doing forceful chest compressions at 100 to 120 pushes per minute (if you’re not sure how fast this is, try doing it to the beat of the Bee Gee’s song “Stayin’ Alive”). Continue without stopping until emergency help arrives
Take charge — order one person to call 911, and another to fetch an AED (assign roles clearly) Start “hands-only” CPR immediately Switch off doing compressions with another available person once you tire Never stop compressions (except when using the AED — and even then, continue until the AED is ready to analyze. Even as they are applying the pads, continue compressions) until help arrives
Family history Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol Obesity Diabetes Sedentary lifestyle Excessive alcohol consumption Previous cardiac arrest or heart attack Increased age (65 or older) Male gender (men are two to three times more susceptible) Illegal drug use Nutritional imbalance (such as low potassium or magnesium)
Warning signs of an impending cardiac arrest can occur within 24 hours of the event, and sometimes even up to a month in advance. They can include chest pain; heart palpitations; irregular heartbeat; wheezing or shortness of breath; fainting, lightheadedness, or dizziness; flu-like symptoms (nausea, abdominal or back pain).
If you are not at elevated risk for cardiac arrest but are experiencing the “warning sign” symptoms, consult your doctor. Do not simply ignore the signs because you assume cardiac arrest cannot happen to you. Even without symptoms or obvious risk factors, it may be a good idea to conduct a risk assessment with your doctor to determine your chances of experiencing cardiac arrest.
A heart attack is like a clogged pipe that prevents food from moving through your garbage disposal; cardiac arrest is like a malfunction that causes the disposal’s motor to stop running food through. By blocking blood flow, a heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, but doesn’t always do so. Cardiac arrest will not cause a heart attack, because the heart muscle is already stopped. Heart attacks can be mild to severe; cardiac arrest is always severe and extremely life-threatening.
The brain is affected almost immediately by a lack of oxygenated blood flow that occurs during cardiac arrest. Brain damage can occur within seconds and may be permanent. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Death often occurs within four to six minutes if CPR or an AED are not utilized. These measures improve survival odds, but not overwhelmingly. [12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Most cases of cardiac arrest are caused by a heart attack; cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart); valvular heart disease; electrical problems in the heart, such as long QT syndrome; or a congenital heart defect. Heart defects are the most common cause of cardiac arrest among seemingly healthy children and young adults. [13] X Research source
According to the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (2002–2012), only 19% of people who experienced symptoms prior to a cardiac arrest episode sought medical attention. Those who did not seek medical attention had a survival rate of 6%. Those who did seek medical attention had a survival rate of 32%. 20% of that group experienced cardiac arrest in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. [16] X Research source
Living a healthier lifestyle, by eating properly, exercising regularly, not smoking, getting enough sleep, drinking in moderation, and reducing stress can help reduce many of the causes of cardiac arrest. Talk to your doctor about your overall risk for cardiac arrest and other heart problems. Medications that address high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other aspects of heart health may be right for you. If you survive a cardiac arrest episode, an internal defibrillator may be implanted in your chest. This device can shock your heart back into rhythm if another episode occurs. [19] X Research source
