What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a serious and often fatal medical emergency. When SCA occurs the heart suddenly stops beating. When the heart stops working, it cannot pump blood to important organs like the brain. This can cause death within minutes if not treated right away.

What Causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

SCA typically occurs because to an electrical malfunction in the heart that disrupts its regular rhythm. This disruption, known as ventricular fibrillation, causes the heart to quiver erratically instead of pumping blood effectively.

Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. A heart attack occurs because of a blockage in the blood vessels. In contrast, an electrical issue mainly causes sudden cardiac arrest. However, a heart attack can increase the risk of SCA when the heart muscle sustains damage.

Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest often occurs without warning, but some symptoms may precede it, including:

• Sudden collapse

• No pulse or breathing

• Loss of consciousness

Sometimes, people may notice warning signs hours or days before sudden cardiac arrest. These signs can include chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, or heart palpitations.

Why Immediate Action is Crucial

Every second counts in a case of SCA. When the heart stops, blood flow to the brain and other vital organs halts, and brain damage can begin within minutes. Survival rates decrease by about 10% for every minute that someone delays defibrillation. This shows how important it is to act quickly.

Immediate bystander action, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), can significantly improve survival rates. CPR keeps blood flowing until medical help arrives. An AED gives a controlled shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

Who is at Risk?

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, regardless of age, health, or fitness level. However, certain factors increase the risk, including:

• A history of heart disease

• A previous heart attack

• A family history of SCA or other heart problems

• High blood pressure

• Smoking

• Diabetes

Athletes, particularly those involved in high-intensity sports, may also be at risk due to the strain placed on their heart.

Prevention and Preparedness

While it’s impossible to predict when sudden cardiac arrest might occur, there are steps that can help reduce risk:

• Regular heart health checkups

• Managing conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes

• Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption

• Staying active and maintaining a healthy weight

We encourage communities, schools, businesses, and other groups to purchase life-saving equipment like AEDs. We also ask them to promote CPR training for people. Preparedness can mean the difference between life and death when seconds matter. By equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools needed to respond to SCA, you can help save lives.

Understanding sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of immediate action is critical to improving survival rates. We dedicate ourselves to empowering individuals to respond confidently and effectively in an emergency.