Sudden Cardiac Arrest Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood throughout the body. This condition causes the brain and organs in the body to be deprived of blood and oxygen flow, so if it is not treated quickly it can cause the sufferer to die.
About 90% of cases of sudden cardiac arrest end in death.
Symptoms
Sudden cardiac arrest is not accompanied by specific symptoms. A common sign of sudden cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of consciousness accompanied by an undetectable pulse. In some cases, sudden cardiac arrest is preceded by symptoms of dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, heartburn, and nausea or vomiting.
Reason
The main causes of sudden cardiac arrest are coronary heart disease and irregular heartbeat. Those with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, severe physical stress, and congenital heart disease have a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Diagnosis
Sudden cardiac arrest is diagnosed by examining the carotid vessels in the neck and finding that they do not pulsate.
Examination of the heart record (electrocardiogram) and blood tests are also needed to determine the cause of sudden cardiac arrest.
Treatment
Sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency case. First aid must be done as soon as possible, by doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation itself is carried out by pressing the patient’s chest rhythmically in an effort to pump the heart so that blood continues to flow to all organs in the body. This action does not have to be done by a doctor, because it can be done by a trained public.
The main treatment for sudden cardiac arrest is defibrillation or cardiac shock therapy. Defibrillation aims to regulate the heart rate so that it can beat normally and regularly as before.
Defibrillators, the tools needed to perform defibrillation, can be obtained in hospitals and other public facilities such as airports, stations, and shopping centers.
After the patient with sudden cardiac arrest arrives at the hospital, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation will continue. The doctor will also inject drugs to trigger the heart to beat normally. If the heart beats again, the patient will be treated in the intensive care unit until his condition is stable.
Prevention
People who already have a history of cardiac arrest are advised to install an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This tool is placed under the skin in the chest, and functions to detect or defibrillate automatically when sudden cardiac arrest occurs.
Sudden cardiac arrest can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle as follows:
- Increase consumption of fiber
- Avoid fatty foods. If you want to eat animal-based foods, choose those that are high in protein, such as skinless fish and chicken.
- Do physical activities such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming or cycling 5 times a week for 30 minutes.
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
- If you have hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol, discuss your treatment with your doctor so that your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels are well controlled.