Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a serious medical condition and requires immediate medical attention. Anyone who experiences an acute onset of chest pain, fullness, discomfort or pressure; shortness of breath; fatigue; experiences nausea, vomiting or lightheadedness should call 911 immediately. The acute onset of these symptoms could indicate the early stages of sudden cardiac arrest or of another cardiac-related condition. After calling 911, get an automated external defibrillator (AED), if one is available, and use it as soon as it arrives. Begin CPR immediately and continue until professional emergency medical services arrive. If two people are available to help, one should begin CPR immediately while the other calls 911 and finds an AED.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. It is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an arrhythmia. With its pumping action disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and other body parts. Seconds later, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if the victim does not receive treatment.

The term sudden cardiac arrest is often used interchangeably with another term, heart attack. However, these conditions are not the same. A heart attack happens due to a blockage in a blood vessel that interrupts the heart’s blood circulation. While a sudden cardiac arrest happens due to a malfunction with the heart’s electrical system. However, these two distinct heart conditions are linked as heart attacks increase the risk for SCA. Although most do not lead to SCA, when SCA occurs, heart attacks are the common cause.

Request an Appointment

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Medical Illustration Copyright © 2019 Nucleus Medical Media, All rights reserved.

Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Most cardiac arrests occur when a diseased heart’s electrical system malfunctions. This malfunction causes an abnormal heart rhythm such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Some cardiac arrests are also caused by extreme slowing of the heart’s rhythm (bradycardia). However, other conditions, traits or habits may also raise your risk for the condition. These are known as risk factors and include:

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors: These factors are irreversible and cannot be changed. The more of these risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing SCA.

  • Male gender
  • Can occur at any age
  • Family history of SCA or inherited disorders that make you prone to arrhythmias.
  • History of arrhythmias

Modifiable Risk Factors: These factors can be modified, treated or controlled through medications or lifestyle changes.

Other conditions that contribute to SCA:

Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Common symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest include:

  • Chest pain, fullness, discomfort or pressure.
  • Discomfort or pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
  • Lightheadedness/Fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Cold sweats
  • Heart palpitations

Diagnosis of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest happens without warning and requires emergency treatment. Doctors rarely diagnose SCA with medical tests as its happening. Instead, SCA often is diagnosed after it happens. Doctors do this by ruling out other causes of a person's sudden collapse with the help of the following diagnostic tests:

Treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency (as previously mentioned). If you survive SCA, these are the following treatment options you may receive:

Medications

  • Beta blockers will help lower blood pressure.
  • Calcium channel blockers will help relax blood vessels and increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while also reducing the heart's workload.
  • Heart rate medications will help regulate your heartbeat.

Medical and Surgical Procedures

Request an Appointment

Patient Stories

  • “That medical staff in the ICU was amazing – they definitely went above and beyond.”

    Rafaelito
    Read More
  • Naiya says she feels like a walking miracle and is blessed to be surrounded by all the doctors, nurses and medical staff at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

    Naiya
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations