October is Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, an important opportunity to educate ourselves on this life-threatening ailment that strikes without warning. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, taking the lives of more than 356,000* people each year, including more than 23,000 youth under age 18.**
Cardiac arrest differs from a heart attack. A heart attack blocks blood flow to the heart, but cardiac arrest causes the heart to stop beating, leading to immediate loss of consciousness and breathing stoppage. The brain can survive about 4 to 6 minutes without blood flow before lasting damage starts. Cardiac arrest proves fatal in over 90% of cases outside hospitals if not treated right away. This condition can affect anyone anywhere, often without warning signs. This makes it essential to grasp what cardiac arrest is how to spot it, and what steps you can take to help save someone’s life.
Cardiac arrest signs can occur suddenly. You might see someone pass out, have no heartbeat, and stop breathing. They could fall down or not react to anything. If you’re there when it happens, you need to act fast. Here’s what you should do:
Cardiac arrest often strikes without warning, but you can take steps to lower your chances. Keeping your high blood pressure in check is very important, as it’s a major cause of sudden cardiac events. Using a home device to track your blood pressure lets you spot changes and send up-to-the-minute info to your doctor. This means they can tweak your medications or suggest lifestyle changes, helping to stop serious issues before they put your life at risk. If you’re already at higher risk because of high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease running in your family, this approach could save your life.
It is possible to protect your heart and maybe save the life of another person if you know the warning signals and take prompt action.
* Source: American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2020 Update
** Source: National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) data interpreted by Characteristics of paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Okubu et al 2020