7 Symptoms Should Know About Cardiac Arrest
The term, cardiac arrest is familiar to everyone, however, the symptoms that lead to the unfortunate incident is only known to a few. Cardiac arrest is the sudden arrest of heart and lung function leading to the collapse of the patient. If cardiac arrest is not treated immediately, it will lead to the death of the patient. Patients who are prone to cardiac arrest, must carry cardiac arrest medication with them at all times so that they can be helped during any adverse situations.
Symptoms leading to cardiac arrest
- Chest discomfort is a common symptom that can indicate the arrival of cardiac arrest; however, it is not always the symptom of cardiac arrest. Additionally, there are many more symptoms apart from chest discomfort that can advent towards cardiac arrest.
- Shortness of breath along with profuse sweating is often encountered by patients before cardiac arrest.
- A fast beating or pounding heart means you should immediately see a doctor without wasting any time. This is a very obvious symptom of cardiac arrest.
- Due to the forthcoming major ailment, patients tend to become very weak, they are inclined towards laying down or sitting down. Look out for yourself and the ones beside you and make sure to help them in such dreadful times.
- You might feel dizzy when you are about to suffer from cardiac arrest. According to researches, most of the patients feel lightheaded which eventually lead to collapse.
- Fainting is also a common symptom that may happen due to cardiac arrest. The reason being loss of blood reaching the brain. The heart is unable to pump blood to the brain which causes blurred vision and eventually the person faints.
- Pain and discomfort in jaw, neck, back, arms and shoulders might also indicate cardiac arrest. If you are feeling any of those right now, rush to a doctor immediately. The reason maybe spreading of the pain of chest to your nearby organs.
Cardiac arrest vs Heart Attack
Cardiac arrest and heart attack is used interchangeably for the same reason by the masses, which generally confers to the sudden stopping of heart. In medical terms both are different, but the layman question remains, is cardiac arrest and heart attack same?
The easy explanation to this answer is, both conditions are very different from each other. Heart attack may occur due to blockage in the coronary artery or thinning of arteries, but on the other hand cardiac arrest is caused due to sudden stoppage of heart due to failure of malfunction of the electrical system of the heart.
Cardiac arrest is much more sudden and the symptoms starts to appear moments before the actual incident takes place, heart attack on contrast, can show symptoms for days before the actual misfortune may happen. Generally, the pain, weakness starts from 2-3 days prior to the attack.
If you see anyone suffering from a cardiac arrest or heart attack, it is almost impossible to detect which is it, so you better call or help and an ambulance before taking any steps. After that, you may start the basic first aid for cardiac arrest which includes CPR. Cardiac arrest deprives the tissues of any oxygen, during CPR oxygen is supplied to the other organs and tissues to prevent a condition called hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the system).
You can give CPR to any patient by laying them on their back first and open all of their airways like mouth and nose. Check if the person is breathing, if not you have to start CPR. You have to place one hand on the top of the other, clasp them together, place it onto the chest of the patient and start pushing down with your elbows straight. Count for 30 compressions and breath into their mouth twice. For adults, you should push at least 2 inches deep. For kids, you should push with the heel of one hand at least 2 inches deep. For infants, these compressions must be given with two forefingers and at least 1.5 inches deep. Continue CPR until the ambulance arrives with an AED machine. If you get tired, let someone else take over so you can rest.
Treatments for cardiac arrest
The advances in technology have brought forward cardiac arrest medications which include vasopressor, antiarrhythmics, atropine, corticosteroids among others. These drugs have proven to be a great success and are being used worldwide to help with cardiac arrest.
If you ever come across a person who needs help, you should call for help immediately and try to search for an ID to contact their family. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of cardiac arrest when you are on road, then call for help, tell the ones beside you to help you.
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