In today’s busy life, heart disease has become one of the biggest health problems. Among these diseases, “cardiac arrest,” i.e., Unexpected stoppage of the heart, is a life-threatening situation. It can happen to anyone at any time without any warning, and if treatment is not received in time, it can also lead to death. In this article, we will know what cardiac arrest is, its causes, symptoms, prevention, and how it can be treated.
What is cardiac arrest?
- Definition: When the heart abruptly stops beating, it’s known as cardiac arrest.
- It is different from a heart attack, although both may be interconnected.
Difference among heart assault and cardiac arrest
- Heart attack: Occurs due to lack of blood supply to the heart muscle.
- Cardiac arrest: Sudden stoppage of heartbeat, inflicting blood flow to stop.
- A heart attack can cause cardiac arrest, but they aren’t the same.
Causes of cardiac arrest
- Coronary artery disease
- Severe arrhythmia
- Heart muscle weakness (Cardiomyopathy)
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Extreme physical fatigue or emotional stress
- Excessive consumption of drugs or alcohol
- Genetic problems
Symptoms of cardiac arrest
- Sudden unconsciousness
- Shortness of breath
- No pulse
- Heart stopping
There may be some signs before this such as:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue
- Anxiety
What to do in an emergency?
- Call an ambulance straight away
Start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation):
- Chest compressions
- Mouth to mouth breathing
- Use AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if available
- Every second is precious
Treatment of cardiac arrest
- Defibrillation in health facility
- Monitoring in ICU
- Pacemaker or ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator)
- Lifestyle adjustments
- Regular medical checkups
Prevention
- Healthy diet (culmination, vegetables, low fats)
- Regular exercising
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol
- Stress management
- Control of blood pressure and cholesterol
- Regular ECG and Echo if there is a history of heart disease in the family
Statistics related to cardiac arrest (in India)
- Every year, thousands and thousands of people die due to cardiac arrest.
- In many cases, lives could not be saved due to not getting CPR on time.
- Many lives can be saved with awareness and training.
Why is it important to learn CPR?
- It is mandatory for common people to know about it
- Training is necessary in schools, colleges and offices
- First step in saving lives
Conclusion:
Cardiac arrest is a serious but timely treatable condition. With its knowledge, identification of symptoms, first aid and awareness, we can save many precious lives. Today’s need is that we not only remain aware of our health, but also make others aware of it. Learning skills like CPR can be life saving.
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