Health: March 2008 Archives

Today I'm going to educate you on cardiac arrest because I feel like my weblog can't only be about me, me, me, me and me. You need to know what to do in circumstances when you can potentially save a life. And I hope I can educate you a little to do that. :)

What is cardiac arrest?

It's the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function. The victim may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. It's also called sudden cardiac arrest or unexpected cardiac arrest. Sudden death can occur within minutes after symptoms appear.

What causes cardiac arrest?

Coronary heart diseases is the most common underlying reason that a person can die of cardiac arrest. Electrocution, drowning, choking or trauma can cause cardiac arrest.

Can cardiac arrest be reversed?

Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just 4-6 minutes after someone first experiences cardiac arrest. It can be reversed if it's treated within a few minutes with an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore the heartbeat. A person's chance of living is reduced 7-10 percent each minute. Very few attempts to resuscitate are successful after 10 minutes.

What are some warning signs of cardiac arrest?

Do you know the warning signs of cardiac arrest? Knowing them by heart (literally) can really save your life. Cardiac arrest can happen immediately and with absolutely no warning. Here are some warning signs:

• Sudden loss of responsiveness: There is absolutely no sign of response when the person is tapped on the shoulder.
• Irregular breathing: The victim is not taking normal breaths when you tilt the head up and check for five seconds.

If these signs are present, you should immediately call emergency services such as 911 in the US or 000 in Australia. (And did you know, anywhere in the world, you can call 112 with your cell phone to reach emergency services? It is true.) Get an automated external defibrillator (AED) if you can and immediately begin CPR.

If you are alone with an adult who has these signs of cardiac arrest, call emergency services, get an AED (if one is available) before you begin CPR. Use an AED as soon as one arrives.

(Curious to know what an AED is? Check here.)

Insidecardiacarrest.com has very good information and videos to keep you vigilant on what to do if something like this happens to you. Know what to do when a heart attack happens so you can potential save a loved one's life or even a stranger.

A lot of information here came from both the American Heart Association and Insidecardiacarrest.com.