Sudden Cardiac Arrest

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• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Overview
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Causes
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risk Factors
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Signs and Symptoms
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Diagnosis
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Treatment
• Prevention
• Key Points
• Read more on Sudden Cardiac Arrest from Healthwise
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest FAQs
• Viewer Comments: Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Experience

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs.

Sudden cardiac arrest usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes.

Overview

To understand sudden cardiac arrest, it helps to understand how the heart works. The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems with the electrical system can cause abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs).

There are many types of arrhythmias. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Some arrhythmias can cause the heart to stop pumping blood to the body. These are the type of arrhythmias that cause sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. During a heart attack, the heart usually doesn't suddenly stop beating. Sudden cardiac arrest, however, may happen after or during recovery from a heart attack.

People who have heart disease are at increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest. However, most sudden cardiac arrests happen in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease or other risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest.

Outlook

Ninety-five percent of people who have sudden cardiac arrest die from it—most within minutes. Rapid treatment of sudden cardiac arrest with a defibrillator can be lifesaving. A defibrillator is a device that sends an electric shock to the heart to try to restore its normal rhythm.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which often are found in public places like airports and office buildings, can be used by bystanders to save the lives of people who are having sudden cardiac arrest.

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