Cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped beating. A heart attack can occur when one of the blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle is blocked. When a blocked blood vessel affects part of the heart that carries the signal for the heart to beat, the heart may beat irregularly or go into cardiac arrest and not beat at all.
Blockage of a heart artery is the most common cause of cardiac arrest. Other causes of cardiac arrest include major electrical shock, drowning, and abnormal heartbeats.
Abnormal heartbeats may result from:
- birth defects
- heart damage and
- drugs (such as cocaine)
Cardiac arrest can be fatal. The person usually collapses and does not appear to be breathing and there is no pulse. Sometimes the heartbeat can be restarted by CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Many people have training in basic CPR. They know how to breathe for a person who has stopped breathing and pump the heart if there is no pulse. If CPR is started within seconds of a cardiac arrest, there is a better chance that the person will survive.
CPR is often used to keep the person alive until emergency medical care arrives. Medical personnel may use a defibrillator to apply electrical shock to the heart. This may restart the heart. They may also use a respirator to help breathe for the patient.
If a person is fortunate enough to survive cardiac arrest, what happens next depends on what caused the arrest. Sometimes the cause can be corrected with medications or a pacemaker. If a heart attack was the cause, it is important that the person follow the treatment and rehab program prescribed by a healthcare provider. Lifestyle changes will be necessary that include regular exercise, eating foods low in fat and cholesterol, no smoking, controlling blood pressure, and monitoring blood cholesterol levels.
Last Reviewed 2005
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIL File CARD3023.RF2 VRS# 6109 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999, 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.
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