Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest refers to the sudden and unexplained loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest is mainly the result of disturbances in electrical processes, during which the main function of the heart, blood pumping, is disrupted.
Sudden cardiac arrest is different from myocardial infarction, in which blood is no longer supplied to the heart. However, myocardial infarction can sometimes cause an electrical disturbance that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency If treatment is not started on time, sudden cardiac death develops With prompt and correct treatment, the chance of survival increases Correctly performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, even with only cardiac massage, increases these chances even more for the patient
The direct cause of sudden cardiac arrest is usually some kind of heart rhythm disorder
Unlike the body's muscles, which receive electrical stimulation from nerves, the heart muscle itself contains an electrical stimulator - a special cluster of cells in the right atrium. This bundle, or sinus node, creates an electrical impulse that gradually spreads to the rest of the heart to synchronize muscle activity. Synchronization is necessary for the normal performance of the blood pumping function
If the sinus node is abnormal or electrical impulses are not conducted well in the heart, an arrhythmic condition is created. As a result, the heart either beats too fast, too slowly or irregularly Often, a rhyming problem is temporary and harmless Some types of arrhythmia are also the cause of sudden cardiac arrest
The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation – rapid, chaotic electrical impulses that cause the ventricles to contract aimlessly and fail to pump blood normally.
Most of the time, the arrhythmia that causes sudden cardiac arrest does not occur in isolation A person with a normal, healthy heart rarely develops sudden cardiac arrest without external stimulation External stimulation can be electric shock, illegal drugs, trauma
Heart diseases in which there is a greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest Life-threatening arrhythmia usually develops in a person with any heart disease. These are:
- Coronary artery disease Sudden cardiac arrest occurs mainly in patients with coronary heart disease At this point, the arteries become clogged due to the accumulation of cholesterol and other fatty molecules, preventing blood from reaching the heart. At this time, the heart can no longer conduct electrical impulses properly
- myocardial infarction If a myocardial infarction has developed, the presence of severe coronary disease is likely At this time, ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest may occur In addition, the infarct forms scar tissue Conduction of electrical impulses may be impaired due to scarring
- Enlargement of the heart - cardiomyopathy This is mainly due to stretching, enlargement or thickening of the heart walls Either way, the heart muscle is abnormal and tissue damage and potential arrhythmias develop
- valvular heart diseases Valve regurgitation or stenosis can be complicated by stretching or thickening of any part of the heart muscle. When cells become enlarged or weakened due to increased stress, the risk of developing an arrhythmia increases
- Congenital heart disease Sudden cardiac arrest in children and adolescents is mainly the result of congenital heart disease Even adults who have already had surgery for the defect are at increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest
- Electrical problems of the heart Some people have disturbances in the electrical processes of the heart This condition is called primary cardiac arrhythmia and examples are: Brugada syndrome, QT prolongation syndrome, etc. Sh
Symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are quick and obvious:
- Sudden collapse
- Absence of pulse
- Stopping of breathing
- Loss of consciousness
Sometimes, other symptoms and signs appear before sudden cardiac arrest These include: fatigue, fainting, blackout, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations, vomiting. Despite this, sudden cardiac arrest still occurs more often without other symptoms
When to see a doctor If you have frequent episodes of chest pain and discomfort, heart palpitations, irregular or fast heartbeats, unexplained wheezing or shortness of breath, an episode of heart failure, be sure to see your doctor If these symptoms persist, call 112
When the heart stops, the lack of oxygen-rich blood causes brain damage within minutes Death or permanent brain damage occurs within 6 minutes Time is critical when the patient is unconscious and not breathing Immediate intervention is necessary
Call 112 if someone around you is unconscious If there is an unconscious child or you are alone, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation with heart massage only at least 2 minutes before calling 911 or 2 minutes before using a portable electric defibrillator
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Check if the unconscious person is breathing If he is not breathing, start CPR Compress the chest forcefully, about 100 times per minute If you are trained in CPR, check the airway and start artificial respiration 30 times after chest compressions If you are not experienced, just continue with the heart massage Do not stop first aid until a defibrillator is brought or an ambulance arrives
Use a defibrillator if this device is nearby If you do not know how to use a defibrillator, call 112 and the operator will help you with instructions If the device decides to do so, deliver 1 shock and immediately continue CPR for at least 2 minutes When using a defibrillator, check for a pulse If necessary, a defibrillator will apply a shock Repeat this cycle until the person regains consciousness or an ambulance takes over
A mobile automatic external defibrillator can be found in many places of gathering: airports, casinos, shopping centers It is also possible to purchase a defibrillator for home use The defibrillator comes with instructions and is programmed to deliver shocks only when necessary
