Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating, and the lack of oxygen to the cells can turn fatal in just minutes. The main cause of cardiac arrest is an irregular heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, which are types of arrhythmias. However, almost any known heart condition can cause cardiac arrest. Some of the heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest include:
- Coronary artery disease: Sudden cardiac arrest may occur if the heart arteries become clogged with cholesterol and other deposits, reducing blood flow to the heart.
- Heart attack: If a heart attack occurs, often as a result of severe coronary artery disease, it can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest.
- Enlarged heart called cardiomyopathy: A diseased heart muscle can make you more prone to sudden cardiac arrest, especially if you also have heart failure.
- Heart valve disease: Damage to the heart muscle can be the result of high blood pressure, heart valve disease, or other causes.
- Electrical abnormalities: These, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and Long QT syndrome, may cause sudden cardiac arrest in children and young people.
- Blood vessel abnormalities: These rare cases occur particularly in the coronary arteries and aorta.
- Heart medications: Under certain conditions, some heart medications can set the stage for arrhythmias that cause sudden cardiac arrest.
Other factors that can increase the risk of cardiac arrest include:
- Vigorous physical activity for people, especially men, who do not exercise regularly, and alcohol misuse.
- Thickened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) .
- Significant changes in blood levels of potassium and magnesium (from using diuretics, for example) .
- Family history of sudden cardiac arrest or other heart conditions.
- Growing older — the risk of sudden cardiac arrest increases with age.
- Being male.
