Sudden death - Sudden cardiac arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest or sudden death is a condition in which the heart muscle suddenly stops functioning, leading to a stoppage of blood flow to vital organs, causing cerebral ischemia, causing all physiological activities in the body to stagnate.

The article was professionally consulted by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, President of Ho Chi Minh City Phlebology Association, lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Reason

Cardiac arrest can result from heart diseases such as:

- Coronary artery disease , in which arteries become clogged with cholesterol plaques and other deposits.

- Disease of the heart muscle .

- Acute heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the body's tissues.

- Cardiac hypertrophy, when the heart muscle wall dilates and becomes larger or thicker.

- Heart valve disease , in which leaky or narrowed heart valves can lead to dilation or thickening of the heart muscle.

- Problems that disrupt the electrical flow in the heart muscle. Examples include Brugada syndrome (which can cause potentially dangerous arrhythmias) and long QT syndrome (which can cause chaotic, uncontrollable arrhythmias).

- Congenital heart disease , a structural disorder of the heart present from birth.

Risk factor

- Unchangeable risk factors:

Age of the patient.
Gender: In general, men face a higher risk of coronary artery disease and sudden cardiac arrest. However, the risk for women increases significantly after menopause.
Family history: Someone had heart disease and died of sudden cardiac arrest.
Ethnicity and race: People of South Asian, African or Caribbean descent face a higher risk of heart disease and cardiac arrest.
- Modifiable risk factors:

Diabetes​
High Blood Pressure .
Increased cholesterol .
Overweight, obesity .
Sedentary lifestyle.
Stress.
Smoke.
Unhealthy eating habits: Diet high in saturated fat, salt and sugar.
Signal

- Cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and signs may include:

Suddenly collapsed.
No pulse or heartbeat.
Breathless.
Loss of consciousness.
- There may be some warning signs before sudden cardiac arrest. These signs include:

Chest pain and discomfort.
Shortness of breath.
Weak all over
Rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeat.
Diagnose

- It is difficult to diagnose sudden cardiac arrest in advance.

- If the patient survives the first cardiac arrest, after the patient is stable, the doctor will perform tests to check the heart's activity and find out any diseases affecting the heart. Try to minimize the risk of another cardiac arrest such as:

Blood tests.
Electrocardiogram (ECG).
Echocardiography.
Ejection fraction test to check the heart's ability to pump blood.
Chest X-ray.
Cardiac catheterization.
Cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest

- Basic resuscitation.

- Defibrillator.

- Use medicine.

- Surgery.

- Rehabilitation treatment.

Complications after successful resuscitation of cardiac arrest

- Lack of oxygen to the brain during cardiac arrest can sometimes cause lasting effects on the patient's brain even after successful resuscitation.

- Complications may include:

Personality changes.
Memory decline.
Always feel tired, dizzy.
Dyslexia includes mouth distortion, difficulty pronouncing words clearly, especially initial or final vowels, babbling, and stuttering.
Muscle twitching.
Prevent

- Regular health check-ups.

- Adopt a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.

- Exercise more regularly, unless your doctor expresses concerns.

- Drink alcohol in moderation.

- Quit smoking and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.