October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

Did you now that October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month? Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart abruptly stops beating without warning. Without a beating heart, blood stops flowing to the vital organs and death can follow within minutes. Sudden cardiac arrest accounts for more than 350,000 U.S. deaths a year; that is more than breast cancer, lung cancer, or AIDS.

SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST VS. HEART ATTACK

Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack as it is a sudden disruption and unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. It is an electrical disturbance in the heart that stops the pumping action and flow of blood to the rest of the body.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is when a blockage interrupts the flow of blood in the heart, causing part of the muscle to die. 

Both are serious health events that may result in death.

BE AWARE

Sudden cardiac arrest often occurs without warning; about 2/3 of episodes happen without any previous symptoms or signs of heart disease. Grimly, 95% of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die as a result. It is essential to be aware of the dangers of a sudden cardiac arrest and plan for good cardiac health before any problems arise. The doctors at Carolina Heart and Leg Center, P.A. will outline your overall heart health and address any issues. A healthy heart is the best way to recognize Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month.