Cardiac arrest is always an extremely life-threatening condition for the body. Therefore, first aid measures must be initiated very quickly to restore cardiac activity. The reasons for cardiac arrest vary widely.
What is cardiac arrest?
It is called cardiac arrest when the heart has stopped beating. As a result, there is no more blood circulation, the brain and all other parts of the body, such as organs and limbs, are no longer supplied with blood and therefore oxygen. Cardiac arrest is therefore a highly life-threatening condition that can lead to the death of the affected patient within minutes. The heart is controlled by electrical impulses that cause the heart muscles to contract. This causes the blood to circulate, with the heart pumping blood through the body at a specific rate. If the beat of the electrical impulses is disturbed, cardiac arrest can occur. Cardiac arrest is also known as sudden cardiac death in case of death.
Causes
The causes of cardiac arrest can be many and varied. In many cases, cardiac arrhythmias are the cause. When this happens, the heart’s natural beat rate gets out of sync with the norm. Either the muscles of the heart work in the wrong sequence or stop their activity altogether. The result is cardiac arrest. But other factors can also trigger cardiac arrest. These include medications, shock, accidents that cause choking, or electric shocks. Stressful situations and unusual physical exertion (e.g., excessive athletic activity) can also trigger cardiac arrest. While in the case of suffocation the cause of cardiac arrest is a lack of oxygen supply, in all other cases a disturbance of the heart rhythm is responsible. In medically necessary cases, cardiac arrest can also be induced artificially. This is often used in special operations on the heart.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Cardiac arrest is often caused by a prolonged heart disease. Nevertheless, cardiac arrest does not necessarily cause symptoms beforehand. Possible warning signs that may herald cardiac arrest include shortness of breath and chest pain that may radiate to the left arm or lower jaw. Many sufferers experience an increasing tightness in the chest area. A general feeling of weakness often occurs as well. Shortly before cardiac arrest, dizziness and fainting may occur, which typically subside quickly and then recur. These symptoms are often accompanied by sweating and a strong feeling of malaise that quickly increases in intensity. The actual cardiac arrest is manifested by the affected person suddenly collapsing and no longer reacting to response and pain stimuli. Subsequently, the affected person loses consciousness and eventually dies from the cardiac arrest, unless emergency medical treatment is provided immediately. The symptoms of cardiac arrest are nonspecific and do not occur in all victims. Often, cardiac arrest occurs entirely without notice; in other cases, it is preceded by a period of chest pain and difficulty breathing. Externally, impending cardiac arrest usually cannot be detected.
Diagnosis and course
Diagnosis of cardiac arrest must be made very quickly to save the affected person from death. In most cases, sudden unconsciousness occurs in the affected person. Therefore, the patient can no longer express any discomfort, and the people present must act quickly and thoughtfully. Should sudden unconsciousness occur, the emergency call should always be notified. It should be clearly stated here that this is an extreme emergency in which the patient has lost consciousness and cardiac arrest is suspected. Cardiac arrest is usually very easy to detect even for laypersons: there is no more heartbeat, therefore no pulse can be felt, and the patient is also no longer breathing. As a result of these factors, the victim loses consciousness and is no longer responsive. After that, first aid measures are very crucial for the survival of the patient.
Complications
Cardiac arrest is itself a complication and usually leads to death if left untreated.Only in very rare cases does cardiac arrest disappear again on its own. As a rule, death occurs after only a few minutes if no first aid measures are initiated. In this case, cardiac massage must be performed to resuscitate the patient. In most cases, patients lose consciousness before cardiac arrest and fall, causing severe injuries. Diagnosis of cardiac arrest is relatively quick and easy due to the absence of a pulse, so treatment can begin early. A defibrillator is also used for resuscitation. However, it can never be generally predicted whether or not the patient can be resuscitated after a cardiac arrest. The longer the arrest lasts, the lower the probability of resuscitation. The internal organs are damaged by the undersupply of oxygen. This can lead to secondary damage and serious complications even after the cardiac arrest has been treated. Life expectancy is severely limited and also depends on the treatment of the cardiac arrest.
When should you see a doctor?
In any case of cardiac arrest, emergency medical services must be called immediately. First aid measures must be administered until the emergency physician arrives. Afterwards, a longer hospital stay is always indicated. Thereafter, regular check-ups must be performed to detect complications at an early stage and to ensure a positive healing process. Ideally, the first signs of cardiac arrest are already medically clarified and treated. Patients who have heart disease or are at increased risk for cardiac arrest for other reasons should seek medical attention if they experience shortness of breath, general weakness and sudden chest pain. At the latest, if a feeling of tightness occurs, combined with other symptoms such as inner restlessness and heart palpitations, medical advice is required. The affected person must immediately go to a hospital or seek emergency medical care. In addition to the family doctor, a cardiologist may also be consulted. In the case of serious conditions, therapeutic counseling is also advisable. In any case, a cardiac arrest requires comprehensive examination and treatment. Otherwise, there is an acute danger to life.
Treatment and therapy
In the event of cardiac arrest, very rapid treatment is extremely important to ensure the patient’s survival. If the heart stops, the body, the brain and all organs, are no longer supplied with blood and oxygen. This is a highly life-threatening situation. Correct and targeted action is therefore crucial for the patient’s survival. Since cardiac arrest is usually very easy to recognize, it is not a problem to take immediate action. After the persons present have notified the emergency call, first aid measures should therefore be started immediately. This includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which should be performed until the arrival of the emergency services. In the event of cardiac arrest, this is the only way to continue supplying the brain and organs with oxygen and thus prevent them from dying. Without resuscitation attempts, the patient risks death within a few minutes. Once the paramedics arrive, they will attempt to restore cardiac activity. A device called a defibrillator is often used for this purpose. This device delivers electrical shocks to the heart, which can cause the heart to begin beating again. During all the procedures performed, chest compressions and ventilation continue to be given to prevent the death of body parts. When the patient regains consciousness and thus the heart has resumed its activity, an inpatient stay is prescribed. During this stay, the patient is closely monitored and the cause of the cardiac arrest is also sought. Depending on the reason for the cardiac arrest, further therapy may be necessary to prevent further occurrences.
Outlook and prognosis
Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition and will end in the death of the patient if he or she cannot be helped within a few minutes. Either first aid must be administered on the spot, or the attending physician is nearby and can use a defibrillator to get the stopped heart beating again.If it is possible to reverse the cardiac arrest, the blood flow is restored and the patient wakes up on his own either immediately or within the next few minutes and hours. If no help is present, the heart may not start beating again on its own and the patient may die. Depending on the trigger of the cardiac arrest and the health status of the affected person, it is not unlikely that more cardiac arrests will happen. Each time, there is a risk that the heart will not start beating again and the patient will later die. Therefore, hospitalization with close control and monitoring is important, and medication must also be administered. This immensely increases a person’s long-term chances of survival after cardiac arrest and ensures that he is more likely to recover. If he has been defibrillated, he will continue to experience mild to moderate pain for several hours or days. The intensity depends on the amount of current that was needed to reverse the cardiac arrest.
Prevention
One hundred percent prevention of cardiac arrest does not exist. It is not uncommon for it to affect even people who appear to be absolutely healthy, do a bit of exercise and lead a healthy life. However, there are risk factors, such as obesity, smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle. Frequent stress should also be avoided, as it increases the risk of heart disease.
Follow-up
Acute treatment is regularly followed by several days of rehabilitation. Physicians, psychologists, nutritionists, and physical therapists care for those affected. Risk factors for a recurrence of cardiac arrest are to be eliminated as far as possible. The focus is on exercise, nutrition, and psychological and social well-being. At home, it is then a question of implementing what has been learned in everyday life. Patients bear a high degree of personal responsibility for this. Smoking in particular is considered the number one risk factor. In order to realize a change of life, the exchange with like-minded people has proven to be very effective. Practical tips can be discussed in small groups. Prevention is therefore of decisive importance for a symptom-free life. In addition to avoiding triggering factors, drug treatment plays an important role. It is not uncommon for the use of beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and acetylsalicylic acid to extend over the rest of a person’s life. The aim is to make the heart work more efficiently, lower blood pressure and reduce blood clotting. The prescription substances are sometimes associated with side effects. Regular follow-up with the treating physician is therefore advisable. Internists and cardiologists are particularly suitable contacts. They perform an examination of the heart as well as the blood. By taking a medical history, risk factors should be excluded.
What you can do yourself
In cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating. The blood circulation collapses and the brain and all other organs are no longer supplied with blood and oxygen. In cardiac arrest, there is an acute danger to life. The victim himself is unconscious and relies on those around him to take appropriate rescue measures without delay. In the event of cardiac arrest, the emergency physician must be notified immediately. After making an emergency call, adequate first aid measures should be initiated immediately. One of the key measures is cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which must not be interrupted until the emergency services arrive. The first thing to do is to check that the airways are clear and not blocked by vomit or foreign bodies. Only then is the patient placed flat on his or her back and chest compressions started in combination with mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose resuscitation. During resuscitation, the flat hand is pressed on the sternum, applying pressure to the heart. The pressure movement is repeated 30 times, after which an attempt is made to deliver air to the patient through the nose or mouth. The social environment of high-risk patients who have already suffered a cardiac arrest or heart attack should become familiar with the method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In the case of cardiac arrest, the survival of the affected person depends on the safe mastery of this measure.
