Preventive Care for Cardiac Arrests

What Is Cardiac Arrest and Can It Be Prevented?

When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the heart stops beating and there is no longer a pulse. This medical emergency can happen abruptly.

Immediate intervention is necessary for cardiac arrest. Death happens within minutes if the victim is not resuscitated.

Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. The heart no longer pumps blood to the brain and other organs of the body. There is no pulse. The cardiac arrest victim is completely unconscious.

If sudden cardiac arrest is treated immediately with CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and an AED, an automated external defibrillator, there is a good chance the patient will survive. Every minute of delay decreases the chance of survival and increases damage to the brain and other organs.

Sometimes sudden cardiac arrest is confused with a heart attack. These are both cardiac emergencies, but there are differences. One main difference is what triggers the emergency. Circulation problems cause heart attacks.

The flow of blood to the heart is blocked but the heart does not stop beating during a heart attack. With sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating and must be restarted.

Is It Possible to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Several things can be done to try and prevent sudden cardiac arrest. There may be warning signs.

Here are some things to watch out for:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fainting
  • Seizures
  • Dizziness, especially when exercising
  • Chest pain 

Keep in mind, these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. Be sure to notify your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Also, inform your doctor of any family history of heart problems or disease. If any family members died suddenly, without explanation, particularly under the age of 50, notify your healthcare provider.

Why An AED Is Very Important to Reduce Deaths from Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Perhaps the single most powerful action to intervene during sudden cardiac arrest is to have an automated external defibrillator in your home. An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a convenient, easy-to-operate portable device that is used during cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating.

An AED delivers a charge of electricity to the heart to get it to start beating. Automated external defibrillators are available without the need for a prescription. 

Having an automated external defibrillator on hand in the home saves precious seconds. This can be the difference between life and death for someone who has sudden cardiac arrest.

Delivering CPR and using an AED while waiting for emergency responders to arrive greatly increases survival rates and reduces the amount of permanent damage to the brain and organs of the body. Taking action during the minutes until the emergency medical team arrives can improve the short and long-term survival rates and outcomes.

CPR, or Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, keeps blood and oxygen flowing through the heart and to the brain. The Automated External Defibrillator automatically measures the victim’s heart rhythm to determine if an electrical shock is necessary. 

If a shock is not necessary, the AED does not deliver the electrical charge. If a shock is necessary, the unit will prompt you to push a button to deliver the shock unless it functions automatically. After the AED delivers the charge, resume CPR until the EMTs arrive.

Anyone at high risk for sudden cardiac death should have an automated external defibrillator inside the home. Family members and caregivers must be trained and familiar with CPR and operating the AED.

Other Actions to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Although it is not always possible to prevent sudden cardiac arrest, there are several steps that can keep your body and heart healthy and strong. The earlier a healthier lifestyle is adopted, the easier it is to avoid heart problems.

  • Lead an active lifestyle with regular exercise.
  • Do not smoke, or stop if you do.
  • Maintain a healthy weight for your height and body frame.
  • Eat heart-healthy meals, avoiding sugar.
  • Minimize stress in your life.
  • Follow the guidelines and advice of your medical doctor.
  • Keep an easily-accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) in your home.

According to the American Heart Association, only 10% of Americans suffering sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital survive. Adopting healthy lifestyle recommendations to reduce the risk of heart disease and being prepared to act in a cardiac arrest emergency are preventative measures that yield results. 

Train family members and care providers on how to respond to a cardiac arrest emergency. Keep a portable automated external defibrillator in your home and learn CPR to administer emergency aid immediately during sudden cardiac arrest and you can greatly increase the victim’s chance for surviving. 

About The Myra Logan Heart Fund

AEDs save lives. Of the 424,000 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that happen annually in the United States, only 10% of victims survive. The chances of survival increase from 6% to 74% if an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is used to deliver shock therapy within three to five minutes of a heart attack, but tragically only a tiny fraction of cardiac arrest victims in the United States ever get the immediate help they need.

The Myra Logan Heart Fund’s mission is to get an AED into every home, office and school. Its purpose is to educate the public about the importance of AEDs, increase their accessibility, and empower people to save lives.

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