Signs of Cardiac Arrest
Since the heart has already stopped when you first notice the obvious symptoms it’s usually too late to help the victim at that point. This article will look at some of the risk factors and warning signs that can help us be more aware of the possibility of cardiac arrest. One factor that must be considered is the fact that the heart must be immediately tended to in order to save a victim of cardiac arrest.
Of course many already know the major symptom that you are not likely to miss, chest pain can occur in cardiac arrest victims as well as most other heart conditions. We typically associate chest pain with heart attacks which when serious enough can lead to cardiac arrest or even death. Of course, people also experience discomfort in the chest area for other reasons, as with heartburn or indigestion, but it’s important to be alert to possible signs of heart trouble. Although cardiac arrest often occurs without warning or pain in some cases chest pain may occur. While heart disease is a common cause of cardiac arrest there are many different things that can cause it aside from a history of heart problems. In addition to a wide range of medical conditions, some accidents and specific types of trauma can also cause a cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest can also be the result of factors like electrocution, extreme cold, and choking. You should seek medical help in any of these situations but when cardiac arrest is present it’s more pressing. If you cannot detect a pulse then the person needs CPR or a defibrillator without delay. These measures can sometimes save the life of someone who has suffered cardiac arrest.
As we’ve discussed thus far, cardiac arrest is a sudden killer causing the heart to completely stop that is often preventable. You must get regular checkups to try and catch the symptoms early. One of the main risk factors of cardiac arrest is coronary artery disease (CAD) which often is not diagnosed in time. Your doctor can diagnose CAD using a number of tests but the biggest sign of CAD is high cholesterol. If you are diagnosed with high cholesterol or CAD there is a lot you can do to reduce your chances of cardiac arrest. Even though many people with CAD don’t know it exists it is still a major cause of cardiac arrest.
Knowing the warning signs and risk factors is only the beginning of what you can do to prevent cardiac arrest. Once you’ve determined your risk factors talk to your cardiologist about the course of treatment to help you avoid cardiac arrest. As we’ve discussed here your risk of cardiac arrest is best assessed with medical tests.
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