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Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Context:
Rohan Mirchandani, the CEO of popular Greek yogurt brand Epigamia, tragically passed away on December 21, 2024, due to sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 42.
More on News:
- His sudden death has raised concerns about the difference between sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack, two terms often used interchangeably but representing distinct medical conditions.
- SCA serves as a sombre reminder that heart disease can strike at any age, and even younger individuals are at risk, particularly in populations genetically predisposed to early heart disease.
About SCA:
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a condition where the heart stops due to irregular electrical impulses, leading to the heart’s electrical system malfunctioning.
- This causes ventricular fibrillation, where the heart’s lower chambers beat rapidly and uncoordinated, preventing it from pumping oxygenated blood to the body.
- Immediate Consequences:
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- Blood Flow Disruption: Lack of blood flow to the brain leads to unconsciousness within minutes.
- Organ Shutdown: Without blood flow, all major organs can shut down within 8 minutes.
- Brain Damage: This occurs in as little as 5 minutes if blood flow is not restored.
- Survival: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be administered within the first 2 minutes for survival chances to be high. Without CPR, death can occur in 8 minutes.
- Causes:
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- Heart blockages that trigger arrhythmias.
- Low heart pumping efficiency or genetic conditions like cardiomyopathy, where stiffened heart muscles prevent effective blood pumping.
- Structural changes in the heart from disease, infection, or blood loss.
- It can occur suddenly and without warning in asymptomatic individuals, making them a high-risk group.
- Symptoms: Sudden fainting.
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- Initial Symptoms: Pain in the jaw, neck, or chest (shouldn’t be ignored or attributed to gas/acidity).
- Other Symptoms: Shortness of breath, weakness, and a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack:
- A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries, usually due to plaque buildup, which restricts blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to muscle damage. In contrast, SCA is not caused by a blockage but by electrical disturbances in the heart.
- A heart attack can trigger a sudden cardiac arrest if the damage to the heart’s electrical system is severe enough.
- While a heart attack can be detected through ECG changes and medical intervention offers a high survival rate (over 90%) if treated promptly, SCA happens without warning and requires immediate action to increase the chances of survival.
When Does a Heart Attack Trigger a Cardiac Arrest?
- Coronary Artery Disease: Approximately 80% of cases where individuals over 40 experience sudden cardiac arrest.
- Plaque Dislodgement: Even blockages of less than 70% can trigger SCA during strenuous exercise when plaque ruptures, causing clotting and blocking arteries, leading to a heart attack. This can trigger sudden electrical changes, leading to SCA.
