Electrical impulses control your heartbeat. When these impulses change the pattern, the pulse becomes irregular. This is also known as an arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias are slow, and others are rapid. Cardiac arrest occurs when the rhythm of the heart stops, which results in the heart’sheart’s inability to generate an adequate cardiac output (forward pumping of blood from heart to rest of the body). With its pumping action disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs, and other organs. Seconds later, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if the victim does not receive treatment. Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.
Heart conditions can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
