What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac Arrest occurs when the heart stops beating unexpectedly and stops pumping blood. Blood does not go to other vital organs and the brain when this occurs. Cardiac Arrest is produced by types of arrhythmias that keep the heart from pumping blood.
Causes of Cardiac Arrest
Cardiomyopathy- It occurs when the heart muscle becomes larger or stiff, which leads to abnormal contractions.
Coronary artery disease- It prevents blood flow to the heart.
Valvular heart disease- It occurs when a heart valve becomes diseased and damaged.
Arrhythmia- When the heart beats too fast, slow, or irregular.
Symptoms
Dizziness
Does not have a pulse
Lightheadedness
Not breathing/ gasping for air
Heart palpitations
What are the Risk Factors for Cardiac Arrest?
High blood pressure- High blood pressure can cause a strain on your arteries and the heart. It can be reduced through a healthy diet, having a healthy weight, and exercising.
A family history of coronary heart disease
Smoking- Smoking can become a risk factor because it causes atherosclerosis and raises your blood pressure.
Obesity- By being overweight it can cause your heart to work harder to pump blood throughout your body.
Diet- having a diet that's too high in fats can cause plaque to build up in your arteries. Eating fatty foods can contain an unhealthy amount of cholesterol. Avoiding foods that contain saturated fat prevents you from having high levels of cholesterol.
How is Cardiac Arrest Diagnosed?
If you have experienced cardiac arrest and arrive at the hospital the doctor will run tests. The doctor may use an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart's activity. A doctor can also run lab tests to check blood for substances that can impact your heart or they can use radiographic imaging.
What to do if someone you know experiences Cardiac Arrest
Call 911
Begin CPR and do chest compressions to help keep blood and oxygen flowing through the body.
Use an (AED) automated external defibrillator if there is one nearby. Using an AED can be the best chance of helping someone with cardiac arrest to survive. Defibrillation can help to shock the heart through pads that are placed on the chest.
How to take care of yourself
It can take time for a person to get back to their normal routine after having a cardiac arrest. But there are ways that you can take care of yourself.
A rehabilitation program can be used to help people to re-learn basic actions such as walking and getting dressed. Most programs will help provide relaxation techniques, physical activities, and educational talks about managing your condition. These programs often have weekly sessions that last 6 to 12 weeks.
Taking medicines is another way to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. Some medicines that can help are:
Anti-platelets
Beta-blockers
Statins
Regular exercise can help strengthen your heart, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation. Some exercises could be walking, riding an exercise bike, and swimming.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board