Health

Cardiac Arrest

By caringsurgeon | Published 8 June 2022 | No Comments

Hundreds of thousands of people suffer sudden cardiac arrest every year, and the results are not pretty. More than 80% of those who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital don’t survive—these numbers aren’t much better even in hospitals. While there are no clear answers as to why so many cardiac arrest patients die, it’s obvious that cardiac arrest patients and their doctors need to do more to prevent them from occurring in the first place and treat them properly when they do happen if they want to survive.

What is cardiac arrest?

In some cases, cardiac arrest may be preceded by symptoms such as unusual chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness of breath and nausea. However, in many other cases, these symptoms aren’t present before a cardiac arrest occurs. In fact, most people who experience a cardiac arrest are found unconscious with no prior warning. The only way to know if you have sudden cardiac arrest is by getting checked out – there’s no way to predict it. If your heart stops beating suddenly, you’re at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. If your heart stops pumping blood around your body properly, you’re at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. If your heart malfunctions because of a problem with its electrical system, you’re at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. If your heart has a structural problem that causes it to beat irregularly or too slowly, you’re at risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest Vs Heart Attack

Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by either a heart attack or an electrical disturbance in your heart that disrupts its ability to pump blood. It’s much more common in men than women, and most often strikes those age 65 and older, as well as overweight individuals. If you’ve had a heart attack or have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), or other cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about what steps you can take to lower your risk of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. He or she may be able to prescribe medication or make other recommendations to help protect you from cardiac arrest and reduce its odds of occurring. In addition, pay attention to any symptoms that could signal a heart problem—such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue.

How to recognize the symptoms

It’s critical to be able to recognize cardiac arrest in its early stages. The sooner CPR and defibrillation are administered, the better a person’s chance of surviving. An automated external defibrillator (AED) can dramatically increase that chance. As an EMT or first responder, you should have a firm grasp of all of these basics. Symptoms of heart attack vary from person to person, but general symptoms include Discomfort in the chest; Pain radiating down the left arm; Pressure or heaviness feeling in the neck and shoulders; Shortness of breath; Sweating; Nausea or vomiting.

A heart attack requires immediate medical attention and is fatal if not treated right away by calling 108. If you suspect someone has had a heart attack, call 108 immediately and then begin performing CPR until help arrives. If possible, send someone else to find an AED while you perform CPR. If there isn’t anyone available to go for help or if they get lost, continue performing CPR until help arrives. Studies show that bystanders who perform CPR before paramedics arrive improve chances of survival by up to 25 percent. So don’t hesitate—learn how to save lives today!

What are the chances of survival?

It’s impossible to say because it depends on a lot of things. But as long as someone gets CPR and defibrillation within about 5 minutes, their chances of survival can be really good. In San Francisco, for example, about half of people who suffer cardiac arrest at home or work survive with no major disabilities. That’s because bystander CPR is fast and effective if done correctly (see below), and in time for paramedics to administer life-saving drugs into a normal rhythm. Your chances are lower if you have a cardiac arrest outside a hospital—about half of these people die, even when they get CPR from bystanders and first responders. In India politicians, celebrities and even doctors die because bystanders don’t know CPR and paramedics are not aware to perform CPR.
A Not-for-profit Organisation PPD Foundation started CPR training for Police, SRDF and college students to improve overall survival in India after cardiac arrest. Every citizen of the country should know CPR to improve overall survival after cardiac arrest.

Tips on how to respond if you witness a cardiac arrest

1. If you are trained to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), find one immediately and follow its instructions for use.
2. Call 108, or if a phone is not available, send someone else to call while you begin CPR.
3. Begin chest compressions by placing both hands on the centre of a victim’s chest; press hard and fast at least 100 times per minute until help arrives.
4. Give two rescue breaths after every 30 compressions; check for a pulse after one complete cycle of CPR.
5. Continue CPR until paramedics arrive with an AED, or until they tell you to stop because they have taken over the care of the victim.
6. Remember that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. In fact, it happens more often than most people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting each year.
7. Be prepared: learn how to perform CPR and take classes in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
8. Recognize symptoms: sudden collapse, no breathing or gasping only, no normal heartbeat felt in victim’s chest.
9. Learn how to respond quickly – timing is critical!
10. If possible, try to remain calm and assess a situation before acting.
11. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others nearby who may be able to assist.
12. Don’t give up – keep trying until professional medical assistance arrives!
13. Tell others about your training so they will know what to do in case of emergency
14. Get trained as soon as possible.
15. Never leave a person alone if they’re unresponsive, even for a moment
16. Most importantly – never assume that someone is dead unless you see obvious signs such as Rigour Mortis.
17. If you witness an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, call 108 immediately
18. Follow these steps exactly as described above
19. The faster treatment begins after cardiac arrest occurs, the better chance of survival
20. It’s also important to remember that children are less likely than adults to survive heart attacks and strokes.

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