Risk Factors for Cardiac Arrest

What are the Risk Factors for Cardiac Arrest?

Multiple factors and health conditions including age, lifestyle, underlying medical conditions, and family history can increase the risk of cardiac arrest in individuals. Though 'cardiac arrest' is used interchangeably with 'heart attack', these are not the same things. A heart attack typically happens when a blockage in an artery prevents or stops the blood to reach certain sections of the heart, which often leads to cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrests is when the heart stops beating - these are extremely dangerous and the victim can lose consciousness within seconds. Cardiac arrests are medical emergencies - if not attended on time, they can result in death as well.

While some of the risk factors, such as age and genetics are not in anyone’s control, the risks of cardiac arrest reduces considerably by managing other controllable factors such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, proper diet and managing stress. Almost about half the people (47%) in the USA, have at least one of the three cardiac risks of high blood pressure, smoking or high cholesterol, and most of these can be controlled by lifestyle modifications.

Major Lifestyle risk factors

The probability of occurrence of cardiac arrest can be vastly reduced by certain lifestyle modifications and checking on lifestyle related risk factors.

• Smoking: One of the biggest risk factors, tobacco smoking can damage the blood vessels, heart, and lungs and can lead to development of coronary heart disease. Smoking can also increase the blood pressure and decrease oxygen level in individuals leading to an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. 

• Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and levels of triglycerides leading to arrhythmia and increased risks of developing stroke, cardiomyopathy, cancer, and related heart diseases. (3,5)

• Stress: Stress because of multiple factors including emotional and physical factors, inadequate sleep, increased cortisol levels, can lead to increase in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. This further increases the risk of cardiac diseases and stroke.

• Inadequate Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle or inadequate physical activity can lead to obesity, high levels of cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes. Moderate and regular exercise can lower the cardiac risks to a great extent (1, 3)

• High Blood Cholesterol and Dietary Imbalance: High blood cholesterol, due to improper diet, can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Intake of a diet containing high trans-fat and saturated fats can result in multiple cardiovascular conditions. Excessive consumption of sodium (salt) in the diet also can increase blood pressure.

• Diabetes: Diabetes is one of the major reason for cardiovascular diseases. High blood sugar levels can lead to narrowing of the blood vessels and increased risk of cardiac attacks.

• Other Factors: Other factors such as consumption of illegal drugs, such as amphetamines or cocaine and nutritional imbalance can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Preventing a cardiac arrest is very crucial and hence an assessment of risk factors and interventional and preventative measures should be taken at an early age. If needed, you should consult a doctor or a nutritionist to prepare a recipe for a healthy lifestyle. One should take all possible precautions to lower the risk of developing any heart problem. (3)

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.