Signs of Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death and it's important to know the warning signs to save your life or that of a loved one. Cardiac arrest is when the heart actually stops beating and can be caused by many factors, including many long term heart diseases. The following are some signs of cardiac arrest to watch for.

The most efficient response to signs of cardiac arrest is to apply immediate aid with a defibrillator. Although these are usually found in hospitals and ambulances they are available to the public with a prescription. These can be essential in case of cardiac arrest, as in many cases, death occurs while people are waiting for an ambulance to arrive, or en route to the hospital. Having a defibrillator nearby can save precious minutes until professional help arrives.

Because cardiac arrest sufferers heart's have already stopped it's important that you get it moving again quickly with this defibrillator on hand you can do that.

One of the deadliest things about cardiac arrest is that it often occurs very quickly. You may be able to save a life if you are able to notice the warning signs for what they are as they are happening. Symptoms that include shortness of breath and heart palpitations can be huge indicators of cardiac arrest, especially among those who have heart problems. It's possible that these symptoms can be many different things but be careful to avoid jumping to the conclusion that it isn't cardiac arrest. The faster help is received the greater the odds of surviving. The decision to call an ambulance when cardiac arrest isn't certain but can't be ruled out could save a life.

Cardiac arrest is a sudden, often fatal, condition where the heart stops, but in most cases there are signs that can predict the likelihood of this happening. Unfortunately, in many cases these don't come in the form of noticeable symptoms, which is why it's important to get regular medical checkups. One of the main risk factors of cardiac arrest is coronary artery disease (CAD) which often is not diagnosed in time. High cholesterol is the first and most major sign of CAD although there are other tests that can detect it. Once you've been diagnosed with any of these conditions you have options to help reduce your likelihood of cardiac arrest. Even though many people with CAD don't know it exists it is still a major cause of cardiac arrest.

Avoiding the risk factors and knowing the symptoms of cardiac arrest can put you in a great position for avoiding it. Talk to a cardiologist if you think you may be at risk. As you can see the best way to assess your risk for cardiac arrest is with medical procedure testing.