Overview
An individual who goes into cardiac arrest is also commonly known as someone who goes into clinical death. This means that when we look at the symptoms of a cardiac arrest, we also have to consider them to be the signs of an impending death. On the other hand, many people don’t realize that a condition such as sudden cardiac arrest is something that can be remedied. There are two major factors that can affect this:
*What exactly is causing the cardiac arrest
*If the symptoms that are present mimic other certain conditions
Regardless, those who suffer from signs related to a cardiac arrest are generally treated with CPR the first time around.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Symptoms
There are many different symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest that should be made note of, as well as how they can be treated.
*Loss of Consciousness: Sudden cardiac arrest can cause blood flow to the brain to be completely cut off. As a result, an individual can lose consciousness and pass out. On the other hand, this imitates a condition known as syncope, which causes similar symptoms. The only difference is that syncope sufferers wake up almost immediately whenever they pass out, nor does CPR treatment seem to harm them.
*Not Breathing: This is the result of blood pump dropping, which, in turn, causes the brain to not relay the message to breathe. In some instances, an individual may begin to make gasping noises, almost as if they’re attempting to breathe but aren’t able to. These reactions are called agonal respirations, and whenever something like this happens, CPR should be started right away.
*No Pulse: This is likely the biggest sign that sudden cardiac arrest is taking place. Nowadays, however, it is becoming more and more difficult for people, including trained medical professionals, to find a pulse on many individuals. Oftentimes, this is the very last sign that will be used in order to determine whether or not someone is going into a cardiac arrest.
Signs That a Cardiac Arrest is Not Taking Place
Perhaps the biggest and most important thing to keep in mind whenever you deal with someone who may be going through a cardiac arrest is whether or not the individual actually wakes up on their own. Anyone who goes through this kind of an issue will have a great amount of difficulty being able to do this very thing. However, if they do, this will indicate that the individual did not actually go into a cardiac arrest, even though the symptoms that they were dealing with at the time may have been similar to that particular issue.
More Information
Heart disease and cardiovascular emergencies are incredibly serious and can be life threatening. If you suspect you or someone you know is having a heart attack contact EMS as soon as possible. This site is for learning purposes only. To learn to recognize and manage a variety of cardiovascular emergencies register for a course here. Training centres are located throughout Canada. Cardiovascular emergencies are covered in every level including CPR and / or first aid courses.