These 6 Things May Signal a Cardiac Arrest

 

A heart attack is a ‘circulation’ problem, and cardiac arrest is an ‘electrical’ problem. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is obstructed—by a blocked artery, for example. Cardiac arrest is a problem with the circuitry of the heart: The subtle, intricate rhythms of your heartbeat are thrown off and the heart ceases to pump efficiently—or at all—according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

In a cardiac arrest, the person gasps for breath or stops breathing and will die within minutes if not treated. A heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, or the condition can occur on its own. The AHA notes, ‘Most heart attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest. But when sudden cardiac arrest occurs, heart attack is a common cause.’

Until recently, experts thought that cardiac arrest always came on without warning, but some research suggests otherwise: More than half of people experience signs in the month prior to going into cardiac arrest but don’t realize that they’re signs—and therefore ignore them—according to a 2016 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.Around 350,000 people in the United States experience sudden cardiac arrest each year, according to the AHA, and nearly 90 percent of them die.

The research suggests that some of these deaths could be prevented if people who experience warning signs—which are often similar to those of a heart attack—acknowledged them and sought help: Nearly a third (32 percent) of the people in the study who called 911 before they had a cardiac arrest survived, compared with 6 percent who didn’t call.

‘Err on the side of caution,’ says J. Brent Muhlestein, MD, codirector of cardiovascular research at the Intermountain Medicinal Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. ‘If you experience symptoms, get help before cardiac arrest happens.’

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Reddit
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

READ NEXT

8 Things That Can Damage Your Liver

Most people associate alcohol abuse with damage to the liver, but other factors can also play a role. These are the health conditions, drugs, and lifestyle habits that can cause

6 Natural Ways to Improve Your Memory Easily

A little bit of jogging is always a good idea Jogging regularly balances your heart rate, which increases the flow of blood to your brain, thereby boosting your memory power.

8 Signs You Might Have Hypothyroidism

Disorders regarding the thyroid gland are pretty common. In fact, approximately 12 percent of Americans will deal with a thyroid issue at some point. Sadly, it appears that 60 percent

6 Reasons Why You’re Losing Your Hair

Have you ever thought why you are losing your hair? There are many causes, but the most certain thing is that men are more likely to lose their hair than

12 Frozen Meals You Should Avoid at All Costs

Gluten-Free Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese Just because it’s gluten-free, it doesn’t mean it’s healthy. This apparently delicious option, for example, contains 31 grams of mostly saturated fat. The problem,

Clear Signs You’re Having an Allergic Reaction

As you know, your immune system guards your body against harmful bacteria and viruses. In certain cases, your immune system will also defend against substances that normally don’t pose a

8 Signs You Might Need an Eye Exam Immediately

According to the report for the 2016 National Health Interview Survey, 25.5 million Adult Americans 18 and older reported experiencing vision loss. No one wants to experience vision loss, so

Scroll to Top