Most people have the impression that sudden cardiac arrest is the same thing as a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked, and the heart usually does not stop beating immediately. Sudden cardiac arrest on the other hand is when the heart stop beating unexpectedly. If not treated within minutes, sudden cardiac arrest can be fatal.

The rhythm of our heartbeat is controlled by the heart’s internal electrical system. Problems with the system can cause irregular or abnormal heart rhythm, making the heart beating too slow or too fast, even stop beating. These are called arrhythmia. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when our heart develop arrhythmia which causes it to stop beating.

Most sudden cardiac arrest happens in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease. But people with heart disease have a higher chance of having sudden cardiac arrest.

How can we prevent death due to sudden cardiac arrest? Well, it differs depending on whether the person have had it, or has never had it but at high risk, or has never had it and has no known risk factor.

A great resource to learn more about sudden cardiac arrest is InsideCardiacArrest.com. Be informed!