Cardiac Arrest - Symptoms, Causes and Prevention

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Cardiac Arrest in Urdu

یہ اچانک سل کی حرکت بند ہونے کی حالت ہے ج ؤو کہ کسی بھی پیشگی علامت کا اظہار نہیں کرتی۔ یہ دل میں ہونے والی ایک برقی خرابی کی وجہ سے دل دماغ اور دوسرے اہم اعجا کو کون کی فراہمی جاری رکھنے کے قابل نہیں رہتا

Doctors For Cardiac Arrest

Summary about Cardiac Arrest in English

Marham enlists the best doctors for cardiac arrest in Pakistan. Book an appointment or online consultation with the best cardiologist for cardiac arrest treatment in Pakistan. We have enlisted the doctors on the basis of their qualifications, experience, location, and fees.

What is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. It causes an abnormal pulse rate, disabling the heart from pumping blood to the body. This drops the blood flow to the brain and other body organs. Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition, which requires immediate medical attention. 

What are the symptoms of Cardiac Arrest?

In some cases, patients may not experience any symptoms. However, the most common symptoms of cardiac arrest are listed below:

• Severe chest pain

• Sudden collapse 

• Zero pulse rate 

• No breathing 

• Unconsciousness

• Heart palpitations

• Weakness

What are the causes of Cardiac Arrest?

The causes of cardiac arrest include: 

• Arrhythmia - disruption of the cardiac signals, resulting in an abnormal heartbeat and blood flow

• Cardiomyopathy - thickening of heart muscles which contracts heart muscles

• Coronary Artery Disease - narrowing and thickening of coronary arteries, restricting cardiac blood flow 

What is the diagnosis of Cardiac Arrest?

The diagnosis of cardiac arrest involves a combination of clinical testing and diagnostic techniques, including:

• Medical History & Physical Examination: The medical practitioner begins with reviewing the patient's medical history which includes - previous health conditions, family history of heart disease, or other patient's medication. 

• ECG: An ECG or Electrocardiogram helps record the heart's electrical signals. Thus, it can determine an abnormal heartbeat caused by cardiac arrest.

• Blood Tests: Blood sampling is conducted to test the levels of cardiac enzymes - including troponin, creatine kinase, & brain natriuretic peptide. Abnormal levels of these enzymes help evaluate the damage to the heart muscles.

• Imaging Tests: Echocardiography - which is the ultrasound of the patient's heart helps the doctor evaluate the structure and function of the patient's heart. 

• Cardiac Catheterization: This diagnostic technique helps healthcare providers evaluate blood flow by visualizing the cardiac coronary arteries. Catheter - a thin tube is taken to the patient's heart through blood vessels. 

• Other Tests: Healthcare providers also perform some other diagnostic tests, depending upon the previous testing results. These include -  stress tests, cardiac MRI, or electrophysiology.

What is the treatment for Cardiac Arrest?

The cardiologist specialist treats cardiac arrest patients using the following treatment techniques and methods:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) - compressing the chest to regulate oxygenated blood throughout the patient's body.

• Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) - analyzing cardiac rhythm and delivering shocks, if required. 

• Certain medications - including epinephrine help the heart start functioning properly. 

• Advanced airway management - comprising endotracheal intubation or supraglottic airway devices to regulate breathing

Surgical interventions - such as coronary angioplasty or stenting for blocked arteries.

What are the preventive measures for Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest can't be completely prevented. However, measures can help the risk of developing heart problems - including:

• Exercising, a nutritious diet, and a healthy lifestyle

• Effectively treating underlying health conditions

• Scheduled medical health check-ups

• Avoiding overdosage of any medication

What are the risk factors for Cardiac Arrest?

The following risk factors can lead to cardiac arrest in person:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)

• Poor cardiac health

• Family history of cardiac issues

• Aging - especially above 50 

• Unhealthy habits including - smoking and poor dietary patterns

• Health issues - especially obesity, hypertension, or diabetes

• Overdose of medication

Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is quick and drastic, and you may experience the following symptoms:

• suddenly collapsing
• losing consciousness
• pulse and breathing stop
• Feeling tired, dizzy, or weak
• Shortness of breath 
• Chest pain
• Cardiac arrest can even happen with no warning signs at all

Causes of Cardiac Arrest

A problem in the heartbeats of the individual as a result of the electoral system of the heart is the main cause of sudden heart arrest. The electoral system of the heart controls the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat. If something goes wrong in the body the heart can beat fast and the individual faces abnormal heart rhythms. Although the arrhythmias are short and harmless sometimes it causes serious consequences. In the lower chamber of the heart, the most fatal cardiac arrest occurs. Rapid erratic impulses cause serious quivers in the heart rather than pumping the blood. 

Heart problems that can cause a sudden cardiac arrest

In people without heart disease, a sudden cardiac arrest may occur. However, a life-threatening arrhythmia usually develops in a person with pre-existing, possibly undiagnosed heart disease. The conditions include:

Coronary Artery Disease 

In most cases of sudden cardiac arrest cholesterol and other debris, blocks the arteries due to which the flow of blood to the heart is reduced.

Heart Attack 

When a heart attack occurs, often as a result of severe coronary heart disease, it can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, a heart attack can leave scar tissue in the heart. Electrical shorts around the scar tissue can cause an abnormal heart rhythm.

Large heart (cardiomyopathy)

This occurs especially when the muscle walls of your heart expand and expand or thicken. Then the heart muscle is abnormal, which often leads to arrhythmias.

Heart valve disease. 

Leakage or narrowing of the heart valves can cause stretching or thickening of the heart muscle. Increasing or weakening the spaces due to the tension of a closed or leaking valve increases the risk of arrhythmias.

Congenital heart disease 

When a sudden cardiac arrest occurs in children or adolescents, it may be due to heart failure that occurred at birth (congenital heart disease). Adults undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease still have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Electrical problems in the heart. 

In some people, the problem is more in the electrical system of the heart than in the heart muscle or heart valves. These are referred to as primary cardiac arrhythmias and include conditions such as Brugada syndrome and long QT syndrome.

Risk Factors of Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest is linked with coronary heart disease and put life in the risk of the coronary artery disease and this way the chances of the sudden cardiac arrest. 

• A family history 

• Smoking 

• High blood pressure 

• High blood cholesterol 

• Obesity 

• Diabetes

• A sedentary lifestyle

• Other factors of sudden cardiac arrest include

• A family history of cardiac arrest 

• Previous heart attack.

• A family history of heart problems.

• Being Male 

• Age 

• Use illegal drugs 

• Sleep apnea

• Chronic kidney diseases.

Preventive Measures of Cardiac Arrest

The chances of sudden cardiac arrest can be reduced by regular checkups and being screened for heart disease and living a healthy life.