Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. This results in a lack of blood to vital organs throughout the body, such as the brain. If left untreated, sudden cardiac arrest can often result in death. Another noteworthy point is that sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. Heart attacks occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is not sufficient.

What are the signs of cardiac arrest?

As the name suggests, sudden cardiac arrest usually happens without any prior warning. The signs of sudden cardiac arrest include:

• The individual collapses/faints suddenly
• Lack of a pulse
• No breathing or breathing abnormally.

What are the causes of sudden cardiac arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is most typically caused by abnormal rhythms of the heart. This is known as an arrhythmia and occurs when the electrical system of the heart is not working correctly. This electrical system controls the rhythm and rate of your heartbeat and if issues arise, this can cause the heart to beat too slowly or indeed too quickly, or irregularly. Occasionally, these arrhythmias can be harmless, but on other occasions they can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

There are also certain factors which can increase your risk of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. These include coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, heart value disease and electrical problems with your heart.

What increases your risk of sudden cardiac arrest?

There are various factors which can influence upon your likelihood of suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. These include:

• High Blood Pressure
• High Levels of Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• An unhealthy or inactive lifestyle.

Other factors which may increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest include the following:

• If you have previously suffered a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
• There is a history of heart disease in your family.
• As you grow older, your risk of sudden cardiac arrest grows.

How defibrillators can treat sudden cardiac arrest

Defibrillators are used in order to administer an electric shock to people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. This shock is administered in a lifesaving attempt to restore normal heart rhythm. AED’s, or automated external defibrillators are designed to individuals without prior medical training to act quickly and provide potentially life saving treatment.

If you would like to learn more about how Heart Safety Solutions can help you treat sudden cardiac arrest, please do not hesitate to get in touch.