HIGHLIGHTS
-- The heart stops beating in case of a cardiac arrest
-- Cardiac arrest stop the blood flow to the heart and rest of the body
-- Immediate medical assistance is required to deal with cardiac arrest
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops working. This serious heart condition can happen without a warning. The heart stops beating during a cardiac arrest and restricts blood to flow to the brain and other parts of the body. This condition generally happens due to a problem in the electrical system of the heart. Cardiac arrest reduces blood flow and progresses to a stage when there is no blood flow to the entire body. A cardiac arrest can be very quick and sudden at times. It makes the patient unconscious and can even lead to sudden death.
Symptoms of cardiac arrest
A sudden cardiac arrest can happen without any signs or symptoms. But in some cases, there are chances that the patient may experience some a little before cardiac arrest. Some of these symptoms may include:
-- Shortness of breath
-- Dizziness
-- Fatigue
-- Racing heartbeat
-- Vomiting
In the case of emergency and sudden cardiac arrest the person may experience:
-- Cheat pain
-- Loss of consciousness
-- No pulse
-- Shortness of breath or no breathing
-- Person may collapse
In such a situation it is very important to seek medical help. Anyone with these symptoms should be treated immediately to avoid death.
What to do during an emergency?
A cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. It is a serious condition which needs medical help instantly. The patient can be given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to assist in pumping of the blood when the heart does not work. But one should not delay in seeking medical help. Any kind of medical assistance within a few minutes may save the life of the patient. Rush the patient to the hospital immediately in such a situation.
"Cardiac arrests are different from heart attacks. Whenever a patient collapses without a pulse, cardiac massage has to be initiated and an ambulance has to be called immediately. An ambulance with a defibrillator and ventilator would be ideal," quoted Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Aster CMI Hospital.
Cardiac arrest prevention
Cardiac arrest is extremely sudden which cannot be prevented at that very moment. But one should follow some healthy practices which can keep the heart healthy for a lifetime. One should never ignore cardiovascular health to avoid such serious complications. Here are some simple lifestyle modifications one can make for better health: