Cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest): symptoms, causes, and treatment

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Definition of cardiac arrest

What is cardiac arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest, also known as cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a heart condition that suddenly stops beating. In fact, the heartbeat indicates that this organ is working properly, namely pumping blood.

If the heart stops beating, it means the heart is not working properly. Blood will stop pumping from the heart to other vital organs, such as the brain, liver and lungs. As a result, this condition makes the sufferer not breathe normally, becomes unconscious, or even stops breathing.

The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat. Several heart rate problems can occur if the internal electrical system is damaged.

This condition is sometimes closely related to other heart rate problems, such as arrhythmias and heart attacks.

Arrhythmias cause the heart to beat irregularly. Meanwhile, a heart attack is the death of heart muscle tissue due to loss of blood intake.

Both of these conditions can cause the heart to suddenly stop working. If not treated promptly, cardiac arrest can lead to death or disability.

When the heart stops, the lack of blood supply with oxygen can cause brain damage. Death or permanent brain damage can occur within 4-6 minutes.

Therefore, if you or someone else experiences symptoms of cardiac arrest, seek emergency medical help immediately.

How common is this disease?

Cardiac arrest is a very serious condition with a high percentage of incidence. It is estimated that there are as many as 7 million cases of cardiac arrest that result in death each year.

In addition, this condition is more common in men than women, with a ratio of 3: 1. Heart stops are also more common in elderly people, between 45 and 75 years.

People who have heart problems or diseases are also more prone to developing this condition. Cardiac arrest can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Cardiac arrest signs & symptoms

Cardiac arrest is a type of heart disease that can occur suddenly. Common symptoms of cardiac arrest include:

• Suddenly the body collapsed.
• There is no pulse.
• Not breathing.
• Loss of consciousness.

In some cases before cardiac arrest, the sufferer felt some symptoms. Symptoms cardiac arrest these are:

• Chest discomfort (angina).
• Hard to breathe.
• Heart palpitations (sensation of a racing heart).
• Body weakness.

When to see a doctor?

Cardiac arrest is a very dangerous condition. Therefore, it is necessary to get medical attention immediately. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic page, you need to get medical help when you experience the following symptoms of cardiac arrest.

• Chest pain that recurs frequently.
• Heart beat.
• Slow heart rate or bradycardia.
• Fast and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
• Wheezing or shortness of breath for no apparent reason.
• Fainting or nearly fainting.
• Dizzy.

Each person's body shows varying signs and symptoms. To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition, immediately contact the nearest doctor.

Causes of cardiac arrest

Cause cardiac arrest is a problem with the electrical system in the heart. This electrical disorder most commonly results from ventricular fibrillation, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Ventricular fibrillation itself is a condition of an abnormal heart rhythm.

Your heart consists of 4 chambers, namely the two spaces below which are called the chambers (ventricles) and the remaining two at the top are the porches (atria). In ventricular fibrillation, the ventricles will vibrate uncontrollably. This condition causes the heart rhythm to change drastically.

Ventricular problems cause the heart to not pump blood properly. In some cases, blood circulation will stop completely. This can lead to death.

When ventricular fibrillation occurs, the sinoatrial (SA) node cannot properly transmit electrical impulses. The SA node is in the right chamber of the heart whose function is to regulate how fast the heart pumps blood.

Apart from ventricular fibrillation, other causes of cardiac arrest that might strike you are:

Coronary artery disease

Most of the causes of sudden cardiac arrest are coronary artery disease that begins with atherosclerosis. This condition occurs because the coronary arteries are blocked by cholesterol or calcium deposits, which can interfere with blood flow to the heart.

Heart attack

A heart attack can scar your heart. This condition can shorten the electric current, trigger heart rhythm abnormalities that can eventually lead to cardiac arrest.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a condition of enlargement of the heart, precisely in the heart muscle due to stretching or thickening. Then, this abnormal heart muscle weakens, causing an irregular and triggering heartbeat cardiac arrest .

Congenital heart disease

Heart stops suddenly can occur in children born with congenital heart disease. Even if they have undergone corrective surgery to treat this abnormality in the heart, the risk of cardiac arrest remains.

Hereditary diseases

Hereditary diseases such as long QT syndrome (LQTS) are one of the causes of cardiac arrest. This syndrome causes abnormal electrical activity in the heart due to small pores on the surface of the heart muscle cells.

People with this condition are prone to developing arrhythmias and put children at high risk for developing them cardiac arrest .

Heart valve disease

Heart valve disease is also a cause of cardiac arrest. This condition indicates a leak or narrowing of the valve so that the heart muscle is stretched and thickened. From time to time, this leaky valve can cause arrhythmias and make the heart stop beating.

Ischemic heart disease

Ischemic heart disease occurs due to the presence of plaque in the coronary arteries, which reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. This condition can cause plaque to burst, trigger blood clots, heart attacks, as well as cardiac arrest.

Most cases of cardiac arrest in adults are originated from ischemic heart disease.

Other causes

Intense exercise is also a cause of cardiac arrest. This is because during physical activity, the body produces the hormone adrenaline which triggers cardiac arrest in people who have heart problems.

In addition, other causes are low levels of potassium and magnesium in the blood so that the heart's electrical signaling is disrupted.

Risk factors for cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest)

Cardiac arrest is a condition that can affect people of all ages and races. However, there are various factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this condition.

However, people who have one or all of the risk factors will not necessarily experience cardiac arrest. There are cases where the sufferer has only one risk factor, or none at all.

Here are some of the risk factors that trigger someone to experience it cardiac arrest :

• Increasing age

This condition tends to occur more easily in older people, between 45 and 75 years. This is because over time the health of the heart and its function will decline.

• Male gender

If you are male, your risk of developing this condition is higher than those of female sex.

• Have had a heart attack

As many as 75% of cases sudden cardiac arrest associated with the occurrence of a heart attack. A person's risk of cardiac arrest is higher after 6 months of having a heart attack.

• History of coronary artery disease

As many as 80% of cases of sudden cardiac arrest are also associated with this disease.

• History of ischemic heart disease

One of the main risk factors cardiac arrest is ischemic heart disease. However, sometimes some sufferers of ischemic heart disease do not realize that the disease exists, until they eventually experience a cardiac arrest.

• Have had a previous cardiac arrest

If you have had this condition before, especially if it happened several times, there is a chance that you will experience it again at another time.

• There are family members with a history cardiac arrest

You also have a greater chance of experiencing this condition if any of your family members have experienced it.

• Have had or have a family history of arrhythmias

If you or your family have a heart rhythm disorder, including Long QT syndrome, or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, your risk of developing this condition is higher.

• History of congenital heart defects

If you have had an abnormal heart or blood vessels since birth, chances are you can develop this condition.

• History of cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy or dilation of the heart is associated with 10% of cases of cardiac arrest. Therefore, people with this disease also have a greater chance than people with a normal heart.

• Being overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese has been linked to various health problems, especially the heart. People who are obese are more likely to suffer from this condition.

• Diabetics

Diabetes has also been shown to affect the health of vital organs in the body, including the heart.

• Take illegal drugs

You have the potential for cardiac arrest if you take drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.

Complications of cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest)

Complications from cardiac arrest brain damage and death are common. According to a study by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center cardiac arrest is a common cause of brain damage.

This is because sudden cardiac arrest deprives the brain cells of oxygen. As a result, these cells will die. Some of the surviving brain cells will experience long-term sensory dysfunction in the cerebral cortex.

The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that receives sensory input, such as sight, hearing, touch, and is involved in more complex functions such as storing memory and language and regulating emotions.

Any brain damage due to cardiac arrest will affect this brain function.

Cardiac arrest drugs & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

If you experience this condition and are successfully saved, the doctor will find out what caused it to prevent it from happening again next time.

So, the purpose of diagnosis is to find out the cause or health problem behind its occurrence cardiac arrest .

Some of the tests and examinations that the doctor may do in the diagnosis cardiac arrest is:

1. Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An electrocardiogram test is done to detect and record the electrical activity of the heart. With an EKG test, the doctor can find out how fast the heart is beating and its regular rhythm.

An EKG test can also record the strength and timing of electric currents in the heart. Diseases such as heart attack and ischemic heart can be detected with this test.

2. Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram test uses sound waves to create images of your heart. The doctor can see the size, shape, and how well your heart valves are performing.

3. Test multiple gated acquisition (MUGA)

In the MUGA test, your doctor will analyze how well your heart pumps blood. In this procedure, your doctor will inject a small amount of radioactive fluid into your blood vessels, which will flow to your heart.

The liquid releases energy which will be detected by the camera later. The camera will produce detailed photos of the heart.

4. Cardiac MRI

This procedure uses magnetic and radio waves to produce detailed images of your heart. Doctors use this test to check the structure and function of the heart.

5. Cardiac catheterization or angiogram

Cardiac catheterization is done by inserting a tube into your blood vessel, either through your groin, neck, or arm.

With a catheter, your doctor can make a more accurate diagnosis of problems with your heart.

6. Blood test

The doctor may also take a sample of your blood for testing. Several aspects such as levels of potassium, magnesium, hormones, and other chemicals will be checked in your blood.

Blood tests can also detect an injury or attack to the heart.

How are cardiac arrests handled?

If your heart suddenly doesn't beat, emergency treatment is needed as soon as possible. Cardiac arrest management (cardiac arrest) all you need to know is:

1. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one of the measures taken for emergency situations.

By maintaining blood flow to vital organs, CPR can temporarily treat this condition until you get further medical attention.

2. Defibrillation

If cardiac arrest occurs due to arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, the most appropriate treatment is defibrillation. This procedure uses electric shocks that are delivered to the heart.

This procedure temporarily stops the irregular heart rhythm. With this, the heart will beat back to its normal rhythm.

3. Handling in the emergency room

When you arrive at the emergency room, the medical staff will try to stabilize your condition. Medical personnel will treat the possibility of a heart attack, heart failure, or electrolyte imbalance in the body.

4. Advanced handling

If you have recovered, the doctor will discuss with you or your family members about treatment cardiac arrest next.

Cardiac arrest management (cardiac arrest) that the doctor may recommend:

• Taking medication

Drugs recommended for cardiac arrest are similar to arrhythmia drugs, such as beta blockers (cholesterol suppressants) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.

• Coronary angioplasty

A procedure to open blocked coronary arteries so that blood flow returns smoothly. The doctor will use a balloon-tipped catheter into the vein and may place a stent (heart ring).

• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

The ICD is a device that is placed in the left collarbone where one or more of the cables run through the blood vessels of the heart. The point is to both monitor and send out a low energy shock if there is a change in heart rhythm.

• Heart surgery procedures

Handling cardiac arrest these include heart bypass surgery, cardiac catheter ablation, and corrective surgery to restore blood flow and normal heart rhythm.

Home treatment for cardiac arrest

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat cardiac arrest?

The following are lifestyle changes that can help you prevent cardiac arrest, including:

• Avoid smoking.
• Make sure you consume no more than 1-2 glasses of alcohol a day, or avoid it altogether.
• Run a nutritious and balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes a day.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.