Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart activity, which can be caused by irregular heart rhythm. It is an emergency condition that can cause death if not treated at the right time. This can be caused by several heart conditions like ventricular fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery disease (CAD), Brugada syndrome, and Long QT syndrome (LQTS). Today, we are going to discuss the heart condition that leads to sudden cardiac arrest in patients.
Symptoms of SDA:
The symptoms of SDA are severe and occur immediately, which makes it hard to address the problem at the right time.
Loss of consciousness (fainting): Individuals may experience fainting or loss of consciousness during SDA.
Heart palpitations: Patients may experience a feeling of pounding, flip-flopping or irregular heartbeats.
Dizziness: Individuals may have dizziness during the SCA.
Weakness: The patient may experience a weakness or loss of strength.
Chest pain: Individuals may have severe chest pain.
Shortness of breath: Patients may experience breathing difficulty 1 hour before the SCA.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Culprits: Unmasking Underlying Heart Conditions
It can be caused by the following heart conditions, which are given below:
Arrhythmias: Arrhythmias are also known as abnormal heartbeat, which can be the most common cause of SCA in individuals. Ventricular fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia which can cause death in most people. You may have a rapid lower heart chamber contract, which can result in the failure of the heart to pump the blood to other parts of the body.
Cardiomyopathy: It is a condition that affects the heart muscle of individuals. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common reason for sudden cardiac death in young adults, which is a genetic condition resulting in the thickening of the heart muscle.
Heart attack and heart failure: Heart attack occurs when the heart blood flow is suddenly reduced due to the blockage (coronary artery disease), whereas heart attack occurs when your heart doesn't pump enough blood to the body. Heart attack and heart failure are the most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest in individuals. Both of them may be involved in changing the electrical activity of the heart, which can cause sudden cardiac arrest in individuals.Â
Brugada syndrome: Brugada syndrome is a rare heart disorder that can cause abnormal heartbeat of the lower heart chamber. This abnormal heartbeat can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in individuals. It is a rare genetic disorder that may happen, especially at sleep or at rest.
Long QT syndrome (LQTS): It is a heart-signaling disorder that results in the delaying of the electrical system of the heart. This can lead to abnormal heart rhythm, which raise the risk of SCA in individuals. This can be an acquired or genetic disorder.
Heart valve disease: It happens when one or more of the heart valves do not work properly. This can result in problems in the blood pumping to other parts of the body and increase the risk of blood leaking back into the chamber or against a narrowed opening. This condition can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death.
Congenital heart defect: Congenital heart defect (CHD) is a condition that can cause problems in the heart structure. It is a congenital disability that increases the rate of sudden cardiac arrest in children and adolescents.
Enlarged heart (cardiomegaly):Â Individuals with an enlarged heart may have an irregular heartbeat (heartbeat either too fast or too slow). This irregular heartbeat can lead to fainting and sudden cardiac arrest. The enlarged heart may be a short-term or long-term problem based on the condition.Â
What to do during sudden cardiac arrest?
Call the emergency number 112 (for India)Â immediately.
Give a CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Give an AED (automated external defibrillator). A healthcare professional should give it.
Always remember that if you have any heart disorder, consult your doctor to avoid the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which can cause death in individuals.