What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest means that the heart has stop beating. This means that it no longer pumps blood through the body. Then the oxygen supply to all organs, tissues and the brain is no longer guaranteed   - they gradually stop working.  hollyhealthfitness

First of all, cardiac arrest affects the supply of the brain. When it no longer receives blood and therefore no more oxygen, it stops working. Affected people become unconscious . After just a few minutes without oxygen, the brain cells die.

Patients suffer cardiovascular failure and cardiac arrest . Breathing also fails. The absence of vital signs such as breathing, heartbeat (pulse), blood pressure, body temperature or consciousness, is a clinical death.

Rapid resuscitation can save! Within the first few minute after the cardiac arrest, there is still the possibility of resuscitating a clinically dead person using appropriate measures . This can be achieved, for example, with chest compressions, artificial respiration or with a defibrillator. In the event of clinical death, it is possible that resuscitation measures will get the vital functions going again. In the case of brain death , on the other hand, resuscitation is no longer possible . The brain functions have irrevocably failed and there is no longer any evidence of brain activity. At the same time, the circulatory functions of those affected must be artificially maintained.  healthbeautystudio

Cardiac arrest is always an emergency where every second counts! The faster you start resuscitation, the higher the victim's chances of survival.

Cardiac arrest: causes

Cardiac arrest is an absolute emergency , life threatening and you must act immediately - every second counts! Immediately use resuscitation measures (chest compressions and artificial respiration, also called resuscitation), because the heart suddenly stops beating in a cardiac arrest. Asystole is the medical term for when heart activity can no longer be detected.

The most common causes of cardiac arrest in adults are diseases that cause abnormal heart rhythms . These include, for example:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD): The coronary arteries are diseased. If one of these vessels is blocked by a blood clot, a heart attack can result. Middle-aged people are often affected. CHD is the main reason for a heart attack
• Acute heart attack : The result can be cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
• Heart muscle diseases (for example myocarditis ),  heart valve defects
• Congenital heart defects

Most often, so-called tachycardiac arrhythmias are the cause of cardiac arrest. The conduction of excitation in the heart is disturbed and the heart goes out of its normal rhythm . It suddenly beats very quickly at a frequency that is far too high. Such tachycardiac arrhythmias in which the heart is racing are, for example, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular flutter. 

Existing heart disease can be the cause of cardiac arrest. In addition, due to existing heart diseases , some people have an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias - and thus of cardiac arrest. This includes people who have survived a heart attack and then suffer from heart failure. Patients who have had a defibrillator implanted by doctors because of a heart disease also belong to the risk group.

Cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death mostly affect older people, but young people are not immune to them either. Often times, the cause of cardiac arrest in younger people is a congenital heart disease that has gone undetected. In many cases, the heart strikes during competitive sports under intense physical stress.

In addition, irritation of the vagus nerve can have serious consequences. Cardiac arrest is triggered by the vagus reflex . Doctors speak of "reflex cardiac arrest". This can be done as part of medical interventions, such as a cardiac catheter or bronchoscopy. Cardiac arrest can also result if a person swallows objects.  techiescity

 

Cardiac arrest: Symptoms of heart disease often show up beforehand

Cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death often seem to come out of the blue. However, the most common reason is irregular heartbeat due to coronary artery disease . Most people have symptoms prior to cardiac arrest that suggest something is wrong with their heart. However, many misinterpret them or do not take them seriously - and do not seek medical advice. Some examples of symptoms that suggest a serious heart condition:

• Chest pressure and tightness
• Chest pain
• Racing heart , fast pulse ( tachycardia ), sometimes slow pulse ( bradycardia )
• shortness of breath
• Dizziness or even fainting
• Retention of water in the legs (edema)

Cardiac arrests and sudden cardiac death are often preceded by ventricular fibrillation . The heart gets completely out of step from one second to the next. It only twitches irregularly and is no longer able to pump blood through the body. Cardiac arrest can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• The heart stops beating (asystole)
• The blood pressure drops to zero and is no longer measurable.
• After four seconds, those affected feel an “emptiness” in their heads.
• After eight seconds, unconsciousness sets in.
• Breathing stops after two to three minutes.
• After ten minutes, resuscitation measures are usually unsuccessful.

Cardiac Arrest: What To Do?

People who have had cardiac arrest will only have a chance of survival if they recognize the emergency quickly and begin resuscitation immediately. Every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest decreases the chance of survival by about ten percent.

So do not wait and start resuscitation immediately if you have a cardiac arrest. Show courage and act bravely. You can't go wrong unless you do nothing. Rather, you can save lives through your actions! First aid in case of cardiac arrest takes place in three steps: check, call, press!

1. Check awareness and breathing

Test to see if the person actually unconscious is. Address them, for example: “Hello, hello, what's your name, what happened?” Take the person by both shoulders and shake them vigorously. Hyperextend the person's head and hear or feel if the person is breathing . Gasping and gasping are not normal breathing, but a sign of the first phase of cardiac arrest.  techgeeksblogger

2. Call an emergency doctor at 112!

Call the emergency doctor on 112 or ask someone to do so. Remain calm and answer the emergency services' questions so that they can get an idea of ​​the situation. Do not end the call yourself, but wait until the ambulance service has no more questions.

3. Perform chest compressions

This cardiac arrest resuscitation works like this:

• If possible, lay the person on their back on a hard surface.
• Kneel to one side of the victim - right or left.

• Place one hand flat on the center of your chest and the second hand on the back of your first hand. With your arms straight, press the breastbone deeply (about five to six centimeters) and fast enough (100 to 120 times per minute) in the direction of the spine. Tip: Follow the rhythm of the song "Stayin 'Alive" by the Bee Gees. Relieve the pressure again after each press. Do not interrupt chest compressions with ventilation. If you are the sole first aider, continue doing this until the emergency doctor arrives. Doctors then continue treatment in a clinic for cardiac arrest.

4. Two or more helpers on site? Use defibrillator in cardiac arrest

With two or more helpers on site, you can work in a team. See if a defibrillator (Automated External Defibrillator, AED) is available in the area. Pay attention to the corresponding symbol signs : green information sign with a heart symbol . Many companies as well as public buildings and places are now equipped with a defibrillator for people with cardiac arrest. The devices are easy to use - even for laypeople.

Split up and do the following:

• The first helper begins with chest compressions, the second helper calls 112 and gets the defibrillator.
• Switch on the devices and follow the instructions of the integrated speech module. An automatic voice tells you which steps to carry out in which order. Some devices also have a screen or drawings for visual support.

The defibrillator can detect two causes of cardiac arrest:

• Ventricular fibrillation : the heart beats too fast and only twitches in an uncoordinated manner. It no longer manages to pump the blood around the body. The defibrillator eliminates ventricular fibrillation with a controlled electric shock. The electrical impulses bring the heart back into a normal rhythm.
• Asystole : The heart no longer shows any action and stands still. In this case, no electric shock will help, only chest compressions. The defibrillator supports you with the voice function.

You carry out all resuscitation measures until the emergency doctor arrives. This then takes over the further treatment in case of cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest: diagnosis

Both cardiac arrest and a heart attack can occur suddenly and unexpectedly at any time - at home, at work, or while exercising. Every year around 65,000 people die in Germany as a result of sudden cardiac arrest and more than 49,000 from heart attacks.

However, there are two different emergency situations that have different causes and in which you have to act differently. Doctors therefore make a distinction between cardiac arrest and heart attack.

• Diagnosis of cardiac arrest : the heart stops beating and vital signs such as breathing, pulse or blood pressure are missing . Cardiac arrest can be recognized in the ECG by means of the zero line - the heart no longer shows any activity. The causes are mostly diseases that cause cardiac arrhythmias. First aid consists of immediately getting the heart beating again or getting it into the right rhythm with a chest compressions or an electric shock (defibrillator) .
• Diagnosis of myocardial infarction : The cause is a blood clot blocking a coronary artery. The heart muscles is no longer adequately supplied with oxygen and nutrients - the heart muscle tissue dies . The aim is to dissolve the blood clot as quickly as possible and restore blood flow. This is done in a hospital. A heart attack can also be easily recognized in the ECG. The different waves and peaks are changed. In the event of a heart attacks, call the emergency doctor immediately on 112 and calm the person affected until they arrive. If he goes into cardiac arrest, begin resuscitation immediately.  healthnutritionhints