Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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Heart Attack
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Definition |
SCA is a chaotic electrical condition of the heart resulting in the loss of blood flow to the brain and body. The most common form of SCA is ventricular fibrillation.
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The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction: a blockage of the coronary arteries leading to a decrease in blood flow.
When this happens, the heart muscles die or become permanently damaged.
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Causes
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Electrical impulses of the heart become chaotic due to a blow to the chest or other (sometimes-unknown) health-related issues. As a result, the heart stops beating regularly and begins to flutter rapidly.
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Plaque made of cholesterol and other cells builds up in the walls of the heart’s arteries.
When the buildup is great enough, the plaque creates a blockage, known as an occlusion, which restricts the blood supply to the heart muscle.
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Symptoms
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Typically, there are no symptoms to SCA. Usually, the first indication of SCA is when the victim faints. The second sign is breathing cessation.
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Warning signs of heart attack include a tightening feeling in the chest, a sore or numb left arm, lower back, neck, and/or jaw.
Other signs include bad indigestion, a feeling that something heavy is sitting on your chest, and shortness of breath.
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Victim's Response
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A sudden cardiac arrest victim always loses consciousness from lack of oxygen.
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The victim of a heart attack is usually conscious and alert.
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Risk of Death
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A victim of SCA will die unless treated. If left untreated, the chances of survival decrease by 10% per minute.
Typically, permanent brain damage occurs within 5-7 minutes.
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Most victims can recover fully and lead normal lives, but about a third of heart attacks are deadly. A heart attack can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
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Treatment
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The only treatment for SCA is defibrillation from an automated external defibrillator (AED). A shock from the AED stops the chaotic electrical activity and allows the heart's sinus node to resume a normal electrical impulse.
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One treatment of a heart attack can be angioplasty, which opens up the blocked vessels with a medical balloon. Afterwards, a stent can be placed in the artery to help keep it open.
Other treatments include clot-busting drugs called thrombolytics or nitroglycerin to reduce chest pain.
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Source: Baba Mail