Overview of Cardiac Arrest
Every year more than 17.5 million people die from cardiovascular diseases, with the US alone accounting for 475,000 American lives. However, these cardiovascular diseases contribute to the patient’s health as the underlying source of one’s symptoms, leading to the initial trigger and/or result of a cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is characterized by its abrupt loss of heart function due to an electrical disturbance developed by heart arrhythmias, which ultimately causes the heart to stop beating as well as creating an imbalance of lung function and breathing. From this, medical attention is needed immediately, as cardiac arrest is life-threatening and can lead to death as quick as a few minutes. It is critical to maintain the state of the human body in order to prevent cardiac arrest which culminates from cardiovascular diseases as well as how to treat these common occurrences of cardiac arrest through modern medicine.
During a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
A heartbeat is controlled by a complex map of electrical impulses and neurons stimulated involuntarily by the brain. When these impulses are distrubed or blocked due to underlying conditions/symptoms, the heartbeat becomes irregular and develops signs of a heart arrhythmia. Sudden cardiac arrest is the buildup of the arrhythmia when the slow or rapid heartbeat rhythm finally stops. During a cardiac arrest, the circulation of the blood and oxygen to vital organs will shortly be stopped soon after, leading to the patient’s loss of consciousness and breathing, as well as permanent brain damage. The pulse that can be detected through the carotid, brachial, or femoral artery will be shallow and minimized as the body begins to shut down. This will lead to a sudden cardiac death (SCD), similar to a heart attack.
Difference between Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
It is important to separate the two terms: “cardiac arrest” and “heart attack”, as they can not be interchangeably used and have different sets of conditions and treatment. While a heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest, it can not be applied the other way around. During a heart attack the blood supply to the heart muscles are reduced, but the heart continues to beat, while in a cardiac arrest the electrical system of the heart stops pumping blood. Another contrasting element to distinguish the difference of the two is in a heart attack the person is aware of their surroundings and can talk about their symptoms where in a cardiac arrest the person is unconscious and a pulse may not be found.
Causes of Cardiac Arrest
The cause of cardiac arrest consists of factors involving one’s age and demographics as well as conditions that impact heart rhythms. A common disturbance of a heart rhythm occurring at the time of a cardiac arrest is a rapid, erratic electric impulse found in the lower chambers of the heart-ventricular fibrillation, which causes the ventricles to quiver instead of pumping blood. Aside from this, heart conditions contribute to the development of a sudden cardiac arrest. Coronary artery disease is one of the main causes of SCA as it narrows the pathway of arteries with fattening cholesterol and other substances which overall decreases and stops the blood flow to the heart. Thirty percent of cardiac arrest cases arise from heart attacks, or myocardial infarction. Heart attack can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest causing damage to the electrical nerves of the heart.
Cardiomyopathy can lead to arrhythmias as the heart's muscles stretch beyond the muscular walls and thickens/enlarges. Valvular heart disease is the leaking or narrowing of the heart valves which leads to the thickening of the heart muscle. Similar to cardiomyopathy, the heart becomes so enlarged that it causes the heart muscles to develop irregular heart rhythms. Sudden cardiac arrest in children or young adolescents can occur due to a congenital heart disease or a heart defect present at the time of birth. Even with corrective surgery, heart defects have a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Finally the last contributing cause to cardiac arrest can simply be due to an electrical problem within the heart itself. Conditions such as Brugadas’s syndrome and long QT syndrome primarily affect the electrical system instead of the heart muscles or valves.
Recognizing Signs & Symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms and signs of a cardiac arrest is crucial in order to prevent death. These symptoms include:
- Sudden collapse
- No pulse and breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Heart palpitations
Treatment of Cardiac Arrest through Modern Medicine
In a situation where cardiac arrest seems to have occurred the best option to ensure success is to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Have someone call 911 and get an AED while another begins to perform CPR: 30 compressions at 100-120 compressions per minute followed by 2 breaths. If a defibrillator is available or has been obtained, use this method still continuing compressions until the AED is fully charged and ready to shock. This cycle must be continued as it provides a manual way for the heart to continue to pump blood as the patient remains unconscious. Through the hospitalization process, a cardiac catheterization may be used to measure the cardiac output and oxygen content of blood. In severe conditions an intra-aortic balloon pump or respiratory support ventilator may also be used.
Diagnosis of Cardiac Arrest through Modern Technology
The development of technology has allowed doctors and scientists to configure and pinpoint the heart arrhythmia or abnormality of a cardiac arrest. A doctor will most likely perform a consultation and then screening and diagnostic tests to determine the risk factor or after-occurrence of cardiac arrest. Clinical laboratory tests such as an electrocardiogram or an angiogram can map out the electrical systems of a heart for a medical consultant, while imaging tests such as chest x-ray, echocardiogram. CT scan, and an MRI, maps out the physical heart itself to identity blood flow problems.
Bibliography
About Cardiac Arrest. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-arrest/about-cardiac-arrest
Cardiac Arrest. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/specialties/heart-care/cardiac-arrest
Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How Are They Different? (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks/heart-attack-or-sudden-cardiac-arrest-how-are-they-different
Mandal, A. (2019, February 26). What is Cardiac Arrest? Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Cardiac-Arrest.aspx
Sudden cardiac arrest. (2018, December 18). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-causes/syc-20350634
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD): Symptoms, Causes. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17522-sudden-cardiac-death-sudden-cardiac-arrest
Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.cardiosmart.org/SuddenCardiacArrest
Comments