Cardiac Arrest - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart is stopped suddenly and is not able to pump blood anymore. As a result, the entire body is deprived of blood and oxygen, especially the brain. Falling unconscious and being unable to breathe are the two immediate effects of cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is a consequential condition of the heart. The word arrest means to abruptly halt or stop. The same happens in cardiac arrest; the heart suddenly stops beating. In some terminologies, it is also referred to as sudden cardiac death. The heart beats on controlled electrical impulses. When these impulses are altered, the heartbeat parallelly is changed. This change in the impulse is called arrhythmia. Sometimes the arrhythmias are fast, and sometimes they are very slow. Cardiac arrest occurs when this electrical impulse stops. Cardiac arrest can cause disability or even death. One must seek emergency health assistance as soon as possible else the result can be fatal.

What Is the Difference Between a Cardiac Arrest and a Heart Attack?

One should be aware that a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are not the same conditions. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscles is wholly cut off. This varies from a clot in one or all the coronary arteries or high cholesterol accumulation in them. However, the heart still pumps and circulates blood to the entire body during a heart attack. The individual is not unconscious, and breathing continues as well. A heart attack left untreated can lead to fatal or non-fatal cardiac arrest. This is why it is essential to seek immediate help in case of a heart attack.

What Are the Causes of a Cardiac Arrest?

There may be many underlying causes of cardiac arrest, and the majority of them are related to the cardiovascular system. An abnormal rhythm of the heart, referred to as ventricular fibrillation or VF, is one of the most common reasons that lead to cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation occurs when the electrical impulses to the heart become so disordered that it leads to the heart-stopping, working, and pumping blood. In short, the heart fibrillates. Some of the other causes of cardiac arrest are the following:

• Coronary heart disease.

• Heart attack.

• Cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle that affects its structure and function).

• Congenital heart disease (structural heart abnormalities that are present at birth).

• Heart valve disease (a condition characterized by dysfunction or damage to one or more of the heart's valves, affecting blood flow).

• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle, often caused by viral infections or autoimmune reactions).

• Overdose of a particular medication.

• Drug toxicity.

• Hypovolaemic shock (a life-threatening condition caused by a severe loss of blood or fluids, leading to inadequate blood volume and organ perfusion).

• A drastic drop in the oxygen levels of the body.

• Atrial fibrillation (a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by irregular and rapid electrical activity in the atria of the heart).

• Obesity.

• Substance abuse.

• Brugada syndrome (an inherited cardiac disorder that can cause abnormal heart rhythms and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death).

• Altered heart medications.

• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (a congenital condition where there is an abnormal electrical pathway in the heart, leading to rapid heart rates).

• Long QT syndrome (a genetic disorder that affects the heart's electrical system, causing abnormal QT intervals on an electrocardiogram)

• Scarring of the heart tissue.

What Are the Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest?

In case cardiac arrest is not treated promptly, death is possible. However, there are great chances of survival if the signs and symptoms are known and on the spot; medical aid is provided. It should be noted that cardiac arrest may not show any symptoms before it occurs, adding to another reason for it being an immensely critical emergency. Signs of a cardiac arrest are generally drastic and include the following mentioned below.

• Sudden loss of consciousness.

• No pulse.

• Not able to breathe.

• Sudden collapse.

• Discomfort in the chest.

• Weakness.

• Palpitations.

• Fluttering feeling in the chest.

• Pounding of the heart.

• Rapid heartbeat.

• Irregular heartbeat.

• Wheezing.

• Shortness of breath.

• Dizziness.

• Lightheaded.

• Abnormal breathing patterns.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Fatigue.

How Is Cardiac Arrest Diagnosed?

In the event of a severe heart attack or cardiac arrest, seeking medical attention is mandatory. This, in turn, helps diagnose the condition or any underlying trigger factor. The main aim of the diagnosis will be to first find a way to return the blood flow to the brain initially and then to other parts of the body. Electrocardiograms are used to recognize the kind of abnormality in the heart’s function or the heart’s rhythm. Some other tests can help diagnose cardiac arrest. Still, these will be done only after the event is addressed- blood tests to measure the levels of magnesium and potassium and x-rays of the chest for any other signs of a hidden cardiovascular condition.

How to Treat Cardiac Arrest?

Medical treatment for cardiac arrest aims to get the flow of blood back into the heart and the body. The healthcare provider will most probably take the help of a device called a defibrillator that gives the heart a shock. This electric shock generally gets the heart rhythm immediately back on the right track. CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an alternative way for the emergency management of cardiac arrest. These treatments get the heart to beat at an average pace once again. Post surviving an episode of cardiac arrest. The healthcare professional may suggest the following:

• Prescription drugs to control blood pressure.

• Medications to limit cholesterol levels.

• Changes in the diet, such as reducing sodium intake.

• Regular exercises for maintaining the fitness of the heart muscles.

• A bypass surgery.

• Surgery to repair the damaged heart structures.

Conclusion

Cardiac arrest is when the heart almost stops working, and the oxygen flow and blood flow are blocked to the body's brain and other vital organs. This can cause long-term damage and may even result in death. A heart attack is different from an episode of cardiac arrest. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, a heart attack or a cardiac arrest generally leads to a cardiac arrest. The most successful line of treatment is that which is done on the spot or within a matter of a few minutes. In the long run, finding out the reason for the episode of cardiac arrest is necessary after consultation with a healthcare professional, specifically a cardiologist. A healthy and active lifestyle are the two vital keys to keeping severe cardiovascular events such as cardiac arrest at bay.