Cardiac Arrest

The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems can cause abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. There are many types of arrhythmia. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or it can stop beating. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart develops an arrhythmia that causes it to stop beating. This is different than a heart attack, where the heart usually continues to beat but blood flow to the heart is blocked.

There are many possible causes of cardiac arrest. They include coronary heart disease, heart attack, electrocution, drowning, or choking. There may not be a known cause to the cardiac arrest.

Without medical attention, the person will die within a few minutes. People are less likely to die if they have early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. Defibrillation is delivering an electric shock to restore the heart rhythm to normal.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Cardiac Arrest on Wikipedia

A '''cardiac arrest''' is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the ventricle (heart)s of the heart to contract effectively during systole. The resulting lack of blood supply results in cell (biology) death from oxygen starvation. Cerebral hypoxia, or lack of oxygen supply to the brain, causes victims to immediately unconsciousness and respiratory arrest. Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that, if left untreated, invariably leads to death within minutes. The primary first-aid treatment for cardiac arrest is ''cardiopulmonary resuscitation''.

Etiology

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the predominant disease process associated with sudden cardiac death in the United States. The incidence of CAD in individuals who suffer sudden cardiac death is between 64 and 90%.

Causes

In apparently healthy adults, cardiac arrest is often caused by ventricular fibrillation during myocardial infarction (heart attack). In children, cardiac arrest is typically caused by hypoxia from other causes such as near-drowning. With prompt treatment survival rates are high. Every fatal injury or illness ultimately terminates in cardiac arrest, which is a natural part of the processes of death.

Diagnosis

The state of cardiac arrest is diagnosed in an unconsciousness (unresponsive to vigorous stimulation) person who does not have a pulse. An ECG clarifies the exact diagnosis and guides treatment. but treatment should begin without awaiting an ECG. The ECG may reveal: * asystole (known colloquially as a ''flatline''), * ventricular fibrillation, * ventricular tachycardia * severe bradycardia, * complete heart block with a slow ventricular escape rate, * agonal rhythm, * or even normal electrical activity (pulseless electrical activity, formerly called electromechanical ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Gamer's Hell Review - Rated 8/10 by Thomas Cap. "If games like Resident Evil already caused you serious nightmares (a little cardiac arrest every now and then when something jumps you from behind is ok, though), you shouldn't even think about getting yourself a title from the Silent Hill series."

Heart Shock : The Cardiac Arrest Survival Program - HeartShock, providing automated external defibrillators which delivers an electrical shock to the heart within the first few minutes of SCA. A.E.D.(Automated External Defibrillators)

LifeServers LLC by BCH - Provides Medtronic automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and training in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest.

At the Heart of Life Saving - Information on the cardiac chain of survival, treatment of sudden cardiac arrest and automatic external defibrillation.

Aventis - Provides patients with information about heart disease including treatment, medication, cardiac arrest, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and high blood pressure.

PULSE Pittsburgh - A coalition of healthcare, foundation and community organizations committed to increasing survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest victims by providing access to AEDs.

Drug boosts survival in deadliest type of cardiac arrest - [CNN]

Study: Hospital cardiac arrests deadlier at night - [CNN]

Atkins diet author home after cardiac arrest - [CNN]