Your heart stops beating primarily due to a disruption in its electrical system, leading to cardiac arrest.
Understanding Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac death, is a life-threatening condition where the heart abruptly stops functioning. This is different from a heart attack, although a heart attack can increase the risk of cardiac arrest.
The Electrical System of the Heart
The heart's rhythm is controlled by an intricate electrical system. This system generates and transmits electrical impulses that coordinate the contraction of the heart muscle, enabling it to pump blood effectively. Disruptions in this system can cause:
- Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats. Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others can be life-threatening.
- Ventricular Fibrillation: A rapid, uncoordinated quivering of the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart), preventing them from pumping blood.
- Asystole: Complete absence of electrical activity in the heart.
Common Causes of Electrical Disruption
Several factors can disrupt the heart's electrical system, leading to cardiac arrest:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries can reduce blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of arrhythmias.
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): Damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack can scar the heart tissue, disrupting the electrical pathways.
- Cardiomyopathy: Diseases of the heart muscle that can affect its ability to pump blood and increase the risk of arrhythmias.
- Electrolyte Imbalances: Abnormal levels of electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and calcium can interfere with the heart's electrical activity.
- Structural Heart Abnormalities: Congenital heart defects or acquired structural issues can disrupt the electrical system.
- Drug Use: Certain medications and recreational drugs can trigger arrhythmias and increase the risk of cardiac arrest.
- Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes: Genetic conditions like Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome predispose individuals to dangerous arrhythmias.
Risk Factors
Certain factors increase your likelihood of experiencing cardiac arrest:
- Previous Heart Attack: Individuals who have had a heart attack are at higher risk.
- Family History of Cardiac Arrest or Sudden Death: Genetic predisposition plays a role.
- Known Heart Disease: Conditions like CAD, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure increase the risk.
- Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure or Cholesterol: These contribute to heart disease.
- Diabetes: Increases the risk of heart disease.
- Smoking: Damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart disease.
- Obesity: Increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Prevention and Treatment
Preventing cardiac arrest involves managing risk factors for heart disease:
- Healthy Lifestyle: Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking.
- Medications: Taking prescribed medications for heart conditions, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): A device implanted in the chest that monitors heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat if a life-threatening arrhythmia is detected.
- CPR and Defibrillation: Immediate CPR and defibrillation (electric shock to the heart) are crucial for survival during cardiac arrest.
