What if the heart suddenly stops? (Cardiac Arrest) - Let's talk about this

Imagine that while you are talking to your friends or walking down the street, someone suddenly falls unconscious. When you go over and look, they are not breathing, their pulse is not beating... they seem to be cold. What would you think if you saw something like this? This is actually what we call sudden cardiac arrest . This is a very serious, life-threatening condition. But if we are properly informed, we can help save someone's life. So today, let's talk about everything in simple terms.

Simply put, what is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac Arrest is when our heart suddenly stops beating. Or, the heart beats so fast and irregularly that it cannot pump blood properly. This can happen very suddenly, without any prior warning, which is why it is also called 'Sudden Cardiac Arrest'. Think about it, the engine of our body is the heart. This engine pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. This oxygen is essential for all organs, such as the brain, lungs, and kidneys, to function. In a cardiac arrest, this engine suddenly turns off. What happens then? No blood flows anywhere in the body. If the brain is deprived of oxygen within a few minutes, the brain begins to be damaged, and eventually death can occur. However, damage to the heart caused by a heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest. This means that a heart attack can be a major cause of cardiac arrest.

What are the symptoms before and during this condition?

Most of the time, a cardiac arrest occurs without any warning signs. However, some people may show certain symptoms just before their heart stops. Also, there are some specific symptoms that a person will show when they are having a cardiac arrest.

Why does this happen? What are the causes of cardiac arrest?

As we discussed earlier, this is a serious problem that occurs in the electrical system of the heart. Our heart naturally has a system that generates electrical signals. These signals are what cause the heart to beat in a beautiful rhythm. When this signaling system is disrupted, the heart's rhythm becomes irregular. We call these arrhythmias . The main cause of a cardiac arrest is a dangerous arrhythmia called Ventricular Fibrillation (V-fib) . What happens here is that the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) emit extremely fast, chaotic electrical signals. As a result, the heart starts to quiver like a piece of jelly instead of beating. This quivering heart cannot pump blood. The result is cardiac arrest. There are several underlying causes that contribute to the occurrence of such dangerous arrhythmias:

• Heart attack: Damage to the heart after a heart attack can disrupt the electrical system.
• Coronary Artery Disease ( CAD ): Narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
• Cardiomyopathy: Thickening or weakening of the heart muscle due to various causes.
• Heart failure: The heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body.
• Congenital Heart Conditions: Problems with the structure of the heart that are present from birth.
• Genetic diseases like Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) and Brugada Syndrome: These are inherited diseases that affect the electrical activity of the heart.
• Intense physical exertion or a serious accident: These can cause a large amount of blood loss or a drop in oxygen levels in the body.
• Drug use: Use of drugs such as cocaine.
• Some medications: Some medications taken for other diseases can also affect this condition.
• Kidney disease: Large changes in the levels of salts such as potassium and magnesium in the body.

What do we do if someone has a cardiac arrest? How can we save a life?

This is the most important part. A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. Every second counts. For every minute that treatment is delayed, a person's chance of survival decreases by about 10%. It takes as little as 5 minutes for brain damage to begin. 1.Call 1990 (Suvaseriya) immediately: The first thing to do is call the ambulance service. Tell them exactly where you are and clearly state that the patient is unconscious and not breathing. 2. Start CPR: Don't wait for the ambulance to arrive. If you can, start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) . Simply put, CPR is when we press the chest with our hands instead of the heart, pumping blood to the brain and other organs. If you don't know how to do CPR, at least give quick and deep compressions to the middle of the chest (Hands-only CPR). You should do it at a rate of about 100-120 times per minute. 3. Find an AED: An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is a handheld machine that can give an electric shock to the heart and restore normal electrical activity. These are available in public places like airports and large shopping malls. If you find an AED, follow the instructions on it. It simply requires you to apply a pad to the chest. The machine will then check the heart rhythm and decide whether or not to give a shock. CPR and an AED are the best way to save someone. Once the ambulance team arrives, they will take the patient to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) for further treatment.

What kind of things will you have to face after surviving a cardiac arrest?

Saving a life from cardiac arrest is the only great thing that can happen. But it is only the beginning of a long journey of recovery. The biggest challenge is the damage that can occur depending on the length of time the brain is deprived of oxygen.

• Brain damage: Going without oxygen for even a few minutes can cause permanent damage to brain cells. This can affect things like memory, thinking, and controlling movements. Some people may experience difficulty speaking (dysarthria) and difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
• Physical Weaknesses: Muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and fatigue are common.
• Mental health issues: After facing such a horrific experience, mental issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise.

Rehabilitation treatments such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are very important to recover from this condition. Also, family support is essential.

Are there ways to protect yourself from this dangerous situation?

Yes, there are things we can do to prevent cardiac arrest. The main thing to do is to control the risk factors that cause it.

Medical interventions

If your doctor determines that you are at high risk of having a cardiac arrest, he or she may recommend certain tests and treatments for you.

• Tests:Tests such as `ECG`, `Echocardiogram`, and `Cardiac Catheterization` can detect any problems with the heart.
• Treatment:
• ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator): This is a small device that is implanted under the skin near the heart. If a dangerous arrhythmia occurs in the heart, this device automatically delivers an electrical shock to restore the heart's rhythm.
• Medications: Medications such as ``Beta-blockers'' that control the heart rhythm.
• Surgery: Surgery to open blocked blood vessels, such as ``Angioplasty'' or ``Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery - CABG''.

Lifestyle changes

These things are important for all of us, not just those at risk.

What to do	Description
Heart-healthy foods	Eat a diet low in salt, sugar, and oil, and rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains.
Exercising regularly	Engage in exercise, such as walking, running, or cycling, for at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.
Avoiding smoking	Smoking is very bad for the heart. If you smoke, take steps to quit today.
Chronic disease management	If you have diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, control them well according to your doctor's instructions.

Things to talk about with your doctor

If you or someone in your family has a history of heart disease, or if you have any concerns about this, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor. You can ask questions like these:

• Am I at risk of having a cardiac arrest?
• Is my family also at risk? Do we need to do genetic testing?
• What changes do I need to make in my lifestyle?
• Will I need a device like an ICD?
• Is there a place where I can learn how to use CPR and AED?

Take-Home Message

• Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating due to a problem with the heart's electrical system. It is different from a heart attack and is an immediate, life-threatening emergency.
• If someone has a cardiac arrest, they suddenly become unconscious, not breathing, and have no pulse.
• To save a life, you must act immediately. First, call 1990. Second, start CPR until the ambulance arrives. Third, use an AED if available.
• Learning how to perform CPR is very important. It could save the life of your loved one or someone else.
• The risk of cardiac arrest can be reduced by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing existing medical conditions well.

Sudden cardiac arrest, Cardiac Arrest, Heart attack, CPR, AED, Heart disease, First aid, Heart health