Cardiac Arrest: Meaning & Causes

Posted by Prosper Agbleze on June 24th, 2017

A lot of people usually mistake the two term “Cardiac Arrest” and "Heart Attack” thinking they are the same but they are not. In this post, you’ll understand what cardiac arrest is and get to know the causes and first aid to give to victim of cardiac arrest before the arrival of a doctor or ambulance.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

A cardiac arrest happens when your heart stops pumping blood around your body. If someone has suddenly collapsed, not breathing normally or at all and unresponsive, they are in cardiac arrest.

Causes Of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Before a person is suddenly taken down by cardiac arrest, some conditions can trigger it which includes:
1. Coronary Artery Disease: In coronary artery disease, the arteries becomes clogged with cholesterol and other deposits, reducing the flow of blood to the heart.
2. Heart Attack: If a heart attack occurs, often as a result of severe coronary artery disease, it can trigger sudden cardiac arrest.
3. Cardiomyopathy: When you have this condition, your heart becomes enlarged or thick, so it’s weakened.
4. Heart Birth Defect: A person with heart birth defect is at risk of cardiac arrest even if a surgery had been done to correct the defect.
5. Valvular Heart Disease: Leaking or narrowing of your heart valve can lead to stretching or thickening of your heart muscles or both. When he chambers becomes enlarged or weakened because of stress caused by a tight or leaking valve, there is an increased risk of developing arrhythmia.