Sudden Cardiac Arrest is an event in which the heart abruptly
stops or develops a very abnormal heart rhythm that prevents
it from pumping blood.
It is not the same thing as a heart attack or so-called "massive
heart attack," in which the heart is severely deprived
of oxygen but still beating. However, a heart attack could
progress to cardiac arrest. Once the patient has "gone
into arrest," he or she only has a few minutes to be treated.
Otherwise, sudden cardiac death will result.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is death that results from cardiac
arrest. Without immediate defibrillation, cardiac arrest will
result in sudden cardiac death. Approximately 70 percent of
SCD cases are caused by coronary artery disease, according
to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
SCA is NOT a random event. Although it may occur in outwardly
healthy people, most victims DO have heart disease or other
health problems, often without being aware of it.
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