
You can help save your life or that of a loved one by knowing the warning signs of cardiac arrest which is one of the leading causes of death. Cardiac arrest, when the heart stops beating, can be caused by many different factors one of which is long term heart disease. Here are some signs of cardiac arrest to look out for.
Before cardiac arrest occurs there isn't always any obvious warning signs, although many lifestyle and health factors contribute to a person's vulnerability. While many heart ailments are associated with older people, sudden cardiac arrest is most common in men who are in their thirties and forties. Men and women of any age can be struck by sudden cardiac arrest. This means that even if a person appears healthy and is not suffering from any symptoms, they can still go into cardiac arrest. So it's important to get medical help for anyone you think is experiencing cardiac arrest even if they look healthy and not susceptible to heart problems. If help is not received quickly enough in a person displaying signs of cardiac arrest, the result can be their death.
Sometimes people will feel dizzy or nauseous before going into cardiac arrest. In a person at risk for heart disease, these symptoms which can be caused by other issues as well, are a definite cause for concern. People who are considered healthy as well as young people can suffer from heart problems so any symptoms need to be taken seriously. Some people have reported feeling lightheaded when having a heart attack. In most cases, the heart doesn't stop beating during a heart attack, differentiating it from cardiac arrest. It's important to treat any heart related symptoms immediately, however, as heart attacks and other heart conditions can lead to cardiac arrest.
If you have any concerns about cardiac arrest, talk with your doctor about what you can do to prevent it. They can help know what lifestyle changes you need to make if any and can even let you know if you need to have an internal defibrillator implanted. You may want to consider getting an external defibrillator, which is the machine used to restart the heart, instead. While you can purchase a defibrillator privately, they are most often used by emergency technicians. Before buying anything, though, talk to your doctor to find out if you have significant risk factors for cardiac arrest and what you can do to help prevent it.
Cardiac arrest is an extremely dangerous medical event so any warning signs should be taken seriously and you should seek immediate emergency help. Living as healthily as possible will help prevent cardiac arrest even though predicting when it could happen isn't possible. That's why it's so important to watch for the warning signs just discussed.
Join HRU for programs that focus on triage consulting group and nursing leadership roles. An HRU seminar is a great educational investment for your nursing staff.
No comments:
Post a Comment