What causes cardiac arrest?
The most common underlying reason for patients to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease. Most cardiac arrests that lead to sudden death occur when the electrical impulses in the diseased heart become rapid (ventricular tachycardia) or chaotic (ventricular fibrillation) or both. This irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) causes the heart to
suddenly stop beating. Some cardiac arrests are due to extreme slowing of the heart. This is called bradycardia.
Blockage of a heart artery is the most common cause of cardiac arrest, but there are other causes. Some people have an abnormal heartbeat because they were born with it. Others have an irregular heartbeat because their heart was damaged by a heart attack or they are under severe stress. Still other have can have an irregular heartbeat because of illegal drugs, such as cocaine. When the heart beats irregularly, there is a chance that it may stop. Major injuries such as electrical shock or drowning can also cause the heart to stop.
Other factors besides heart disease and heart attack can cause cardiac arrest. They include respiratory arrest, electrocution, drowning, choking and trauma. Cardiac arrest can also occur without any known cause.
In apparently healthy adults, cardiac arrest is often caused by ventricular fibrillation during myocardial infarction (heart attack). In children, cardiac arrest is typically caused by hypoxia from other causes such as near-drowning. With prompt treatment survival rates are high. Every fatal injury or illness ultimately terminates in cardiac arrest, which is a natural part of the processes of death. |
