|
|
|
Key Points
- Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is when the heart
suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. This is often because of a problem
with the heart's electrical system.
- SCA is not the same thing as a
heart
attack, although it may happen during recovery from a heart attack.
- The first sign of SCA is usually sudden loss of
consciousness.
- Ninety-five percent of people who have SCA die
from it, most within minutes.
- Several factors can cause electrical problems
that trigger SCA, including
coronary
artery disease, physical stress, inherited disorders, and structural
changes in the heart.
- People with heart disease have a greater chance
of having SCA. But most cases occur in people who appear healthy and have no
known heart disease or other risk factors for SCA.
- SCA occurs most often in adults in their
mid-thirties to mid-forties. It affects men twice as often as women. SCA rarely
occurs in children (although children with certain inherited heart conditions
are at increased risk).
- Several tests can help show if people have a
greater chance for having SCA. These tests are
EKG,
echocardiogram,
MUGA test,
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) heart scan,
cardiac
catheterization, and
electrophysiology study.
- SCA requires immediate treatment with a device
called a defibrillator, which delivers an electrical shock to the heart.
Successful defibrillation restores normal rhythm to the heart.
- Defibrillation must be provided within minutes
after SCA to avoid permanent damage to the body and brain and to prevent death.
With every minute of delay in providing defibrillation, the chances of
surviving SCA drop rapidly.
- People experiencing SCA should be given
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until they can be treated with a
defibrillator.
- Special defibrillators called automated external
defibrillators (AEDs) can be used by untrained bystanders in an emergency. AEDs
are becoming increasingly available at public places, such as airports, office
building, and shopping centers.
- People who survive SCA may need an implantable
cardioverter defibrillator to help prevent death if another SCA happens.
- Beta blocker drugs also help reduce the chance of
death from SCA in people with known heart disease.
- Heart healthy lifestyle choices may lower
people's chances for SCA.
|
|
Prevention Links
|