What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating due to a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system. The malfunction that triggers SCA is a life-threatening abnormal rhythm, or arrhythmia. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most common type of arrhythmia that leads to SCA. During VF, the heart’s chaotic rhythm makes it unable to pump blood to the body and brain.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) simply means that the heart unexpectedly and abruptly quits beating. This is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). Approximately 235,000 Americans suffer SCA each year without warning. It can leave the victim dead within a matter of minutes.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heartbeat stops abruptly and unexpectedly. This usually is caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), an abnormality in the heart’s electrical system. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain the heart and the rest of the body, and the person collapses. In fact, the victim is clinically dead and will remain so unless someone helps immediately. A quick combination of CPR and defibrillation can restore life.
