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Cardiac Arrest: What You Should Know
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What Is It?
Cardiac arrest,
sometimes called sudden cardiac arrest, means that your heart suddenly stops
beating. This cuts off blood flow to the brain and other organs. It’s an
emergency and is deadly if not treated immediately. Call 911 right away!
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Symptoms
Cardiac arrest is quick
and drastic: You suddenly collapse, lose consciousness, have no pulse, and
aren’t breathing. Right before it happens, you could be very tired, dizzy,
weak, short of breath, or sick to your stomach. You may pass out or have chest
pain. But not always. Cardiac arrest can happen with no warning signs at all.
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What Happens
Your heart has an
electrical system that keeps it beating regularly. Cardiac arrest can strike if
the electrical signals go haywire and cause an irregular heartbeat, or
arrhythmia. There are different types of arrhythmias, and most aren’t
dangerous. One called ventricular fibrillation triggers cardiac arrest the
most. If this happens, the heart can’t pump enough blood to your body. That’s
life-threatening within minutes.
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Heart Disease Link
Many people who have
cardiac arrest also have coronary artery disease. Often, that’s where the
trouble starts. Having coronary artery disease means less blood flows into your
heart. This can lead to a heart attack that damages your heart’s electrical system.
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Other Causes
Cardiac arrest can also
happen for other reasons, including:
·
Major blood loss or severe lack of oxygen
·
Intense exercise, if you have heart
problems
·
Too high levels of potassium or magnesium,
which could lead to a deadly heart rhythm
·
Your genes. You may inherit certain
arrhythmias or a tendency to get them.
·
Changes to your heart's structure. For
instance, an enlarged heart or changes caused by an infection.
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Not a Heart Attack
Unlike cardiac arrest,
your heart doesn’t usually stop during a heart attack. Rather, blood flow is
blocked in a heart attack, so your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen. That can
kill some of the heart muscle. But the two are linked: The scar tissue that
grows as you recover from a heart attack can mess with the heart’s electrical
signals and could put you at risk. And a heart attack itself can sometimes
trigger cardiac arrest.
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Not Heart Failure, Either
Cardiac arrest strikes
suddenly. It’s an instant crisis. Heart failure is different. It’s a condition
where your heart gets weaker over time until it can’t send enough blood and
oxygen around your body. When your cells don’t get enough of these nutrients,
your body doesn’t work as well. You may find it hard to catch your breath when
you do simple things like carry groceries, climb stairs, or even walk.
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At Risk for Cardiac Arrest
It’s more likely if you:
·
Have coronary artery disease (This is the
biggest risk.)
·
Are a man
·
Have had arrhythmias or cardiac arrest, or
someone in your family has
·
Smoke or abuse drugs or alcohol
·
Have had one or more heart attacks
·
Have diabetes, high blood pressure, or
heart failure
·
Are obese
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Intense Emotion
Sudden strong feelings,
especially out-of-control anger, can prompt arrhythmias that trigger cardiac
arrest. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression also may make
you more likely to have it. That’s one more reason to tell your doctor or see a
counselor if you’re having a hard time.
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Treatment
If you have cardiac
arrest, you need immediate treatment with a defibrillator, a machine that sends
an electric shock to the heart. This shock sometimes can get your heart to beat
normally again. But it must be done within minutes to help. First responders
like police, firefighters, and paramedics usually have a defibrillator and know
how to use it. Some public places have a version of the machine, called an AED,
that anyone can use.
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AED: What to Do
You don’t need training
to use an AED (automated external defibrillator). Just follow the directions.
This device can sense dangerous arrhythmias and send a lifesaving shock to the
heart if needed. If you think someone is having cardiac arrest, call 911 and
send someone to look for an AED. Do CPR until the AED or emergency responders
arrive.
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At the Hospital
The doctors will watch
you closely. They will try to find out what caused your cardiac arrest and
treat the problem. If you have coronary artery disease, you may get a bypass or
a procedure called angioplasty to open narrowed or blocked arteries in your
heart. You may also get medicines and advice for lifestyle changes to lower
your chances of having it again.
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See a Cardiologist
After you recover,
you’ll see a heart doctor (cardiologist), who will check your heart’s
electrical system and come up with your treatment plan to try to prevent
another cardiac arrest. You might get blood tests and other types of studies to
check on your heart.
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What Other Tests Might I Get?
Your doctor may
recommend:
·
EKG
(electrocardiogram): It reads your heart's electrical
activity.
·
Echocardiography: It shows your heart’s size, shape, and how well it
works.
·
Cardiac
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): This makes detailed pictures of your heart at
work.
·
MUGA
(multiple gated acquisition): You
get a little radioactive material injected into your bloodstream to help
special cameras take pictures of your heart.
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Cardiac Catheterization
Your doctor may put a
soft, thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your neck, arm, or
upper thigh and guide it to your heart. She may send a special dye that’s
visible on X-rays into the tube to check for narrowed or blocked arteries. She
can also test your heart’s response to certain drugs or electrical signals. She
may even use the tube to do angioplasty, a procedure to open blocked
arteries.
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If You Need an ICD
This device is a small
automated defibrillator that a surgeon can implant under your skin to send an
electric shock to your heart if it finds certain irregular heartbeats. Your
doctor may suggest that you get one if you have severe heart disease or have already
had cardiac arrest. A surgeon places the ICD under your skin. Some devices
include a pacemaker as well as an ICD to keep your heart rhythm regular.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
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