Cardiac arrest: Causes, signs, risk factors and everything else you need to know

Our heart is an integral part of our body. It is what pumps the blood to ensure continuous flow of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and other organs. However, many things can go wrong when it comes to our heart. The most common ailments associated with the heart are heart attack and cardiac arrest, which can often lead to death.

While many people use heart attack and a cardiac arrest as synonymous terms, it is not the same. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked, whereas cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating.

Every heart possesses a heartbeat which continues to beat until and unless a person is alive. The heartbeat is controlled by electrical impulses. Given that these impulses change their pattern, the heartbeat can become irregular, leading to a state of arrhythmia. When the rhythm of the heart halts, it is when a cardiac arrest occurs, which means that the beating of the heart stops.

Cardiac arrest can be caused by multiple factors. Some of the most common causes are as follows.

- Ventricular Fibrillation - The heart has four chambers known as ventricles. When these chambers begin to get out of control, changing the rhythm of the heart, it leads to Ventricular Fibrillation. Because the ventricles begin to pump inefficiently, the heart fails to pump blood to other organs. This in turn leads to stoppage of blood flow entirely, causing cardiac arrest.

- Atrial Fibrillation - Following an arrhythmia in the upper ventricles (atria), the heart can beat inefficiently. When the sinoatrial (SA) node doesn’t send out the correct electrical impulses, it leads to Atrial Fibrillation, making it more difficult for the ventricles to pump blood out of the body.

There are many heart conditions that can increase your chances of suffering a cardiac arrest.

- People with coronary artery disease and other heart conditions, such as an enlarged heart and irregular heart valves.

- History of heart attack

- High blood pressure and high cholesterol

- Lifestyle habits, such as smoking, drinking and unhealthy weight

When a person has a cardiac arrest he or she may experience the symptoms listed below.

- Shortness of breath

- Dizziness and nausea

- Feeling of weakness or fatigue

- Increased heart palpitations

Emergency warning signs may include:

- Chest pain

- Difficulty in breathing

- Lack of pulse

- Unconsciousness

- When the patient collapses

As and when a person suffers from a cardiac arrest, the immediate response should include a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Apart from that, defibrillation can also help in reviving back the pulses.

If a person survives cardiac arrest, he may have to undergo the following treatments.

- Changes in the diet i.e. eating foods lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

- Medications that can lower cholesterol level and also keep your BP in check.

- Physical activity is the best way to keep fit and healthy. However, avoid indulging in strenuous exercises.

- In advanced cases, surgery to repair and strengthen damaged blood vessels or heart valves can be recommended by your doctor.