Overview
Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body; causing the person to lose consciousness and stop breathing or breathing normally.
This usually occurs without warning.
If you think somebody has gone into cardiac arrest, call 999 immediately and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The call taker will tell you what to do.
If there’s a defibrillator nearby, the call taker will tell you where it is and ask if someone can go and get it. Do not stop CPR.
Recognition
Cardiac arrest survival depends on early recognition and intervention.
The signs of cardiac arrest are:
- The person is not responding and they are not breathing (or their breathing doesn’t look normal).
In the early stages of sudden cardiac arrest there may be slow, gasping breaths (agonal breathing) and/or short episodes of seizure-like movements.
If you think somebody has gone into cardiac arrest, call 999 immediately, and start CPR. The call taker will tell you what to do.
If there’s a defibrillator nearby, the call taker will tell you where it is and ask if someone can go and get it. Use it as soon as you can.
Hands-only CPR (chest compressions)
To do chest compressions on an adult:
- Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person's chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.
- Using your body weight (not just your arms), push down approximately 5 to 6cm on their chest. Let the chest rise after each push.
- Repeat this until an ambulance arrives.
Aim to do 100 to 120 compressions a minute. For more information on how to do CPR, visit British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council UK. You can also try Lifesaver, an interactive game by the Resuscitation Council that teaches you how to do CPR and what to do in an emergency.
Find out about how to resuscitate a child.
Who can get it
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, from young children to older adults. Those with underlying heart disease are at increased risk.
Diagnosis
A member of the healthcare team will tell you if you had a cardiac arrest. It’s usually diagnosed after CPR and/or defibrillation has been given.
Causes
Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, but it can have many causes, not all related to heart conditions.
- Heart attack – This happens when blood vessels to the heart become blocked or narrowed, reducing blood flow, and damaging the heart. This is not the same as cardiac arrest, however a cardiac arrest can occur as a complication of the heart muscle damage caused by a heart attack.
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) - Electrical signals within the heart tell the heart to beat. If these signals are not working properly, it can cause the heart to beat dangerously fast, slow, ineffectively, or not at all. This can cause a cardiac arrest.
- Heart failure -Heart failure can cause the heart’s main pumping chamber to change shape or size, making it harder for the heart to beat properly and possibly leading to cardiac arrest.
- Choking or suffocation - If a person cannot breathe properly, they may not get enough oxygen, which can lead to cardiac arrest.
- Drowning happens when water cover’s a person’s mouth and nose, making it hard to breathe. Water can also enter the lungs stopping oxygen from getting in. If not treated quickly, this can lead to cardiac arrest.
- Severe bleeding (haemorrhage) - Losing a large amount of blood from an injury or internal bleeding can cause cardiac arrest.
- Poisoning or drug overdose - certain drugs, including illegal substances and some prescription medications, can interfere with the heart’s rhythm or the person’s breathing, leading to cardiac arrest.
- Sepsis - Sepsis is a serious condition that happens when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage its own tissues and organs, which if untreated can lead to cardiac arrest.
- Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen very quickly, usually from food, medicine or something else you are allergic to. It can cause issues with a person’s breathing and circulation problems that can lead to cardiac arrest if not treated quickly.
- Hypothermia (too cold) - hypothermia happens when a person gets too cold from being outside in cold weather or cold water. If the body temperature drops too low, the heart can beat very slowly or irregularly and eventually stop beating.
- Heatstroke (Too Hot) - When the body gets too hot, it can affect the heart’s function and cause cardiac arrest.
- Electrocution - A strong electric shock can interfere with the heart’s electrical signals and cause cardiac arrest.
After a cardiac arrest, you will be closely monitored in hospital. This may involve being admitted to an intensive care or heart unit. Your doctors in hospital will investigate the cause and recommend treatments to help you recover and prevent it from happening again.
Sometimes, they may not find a clear cause, this is known as an idiopathic cause.
Recovery
Recovering from a cardiac arrest can take several months, so it's important not to rush your rehabilitation.
During recovery, you'll receive help and support from a range of healthcare professionals this may include:
- Doctors (including your own GP)
- Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacists
- Occupational therapists
- Counsellors
- Clinical psychologists
These healthcare professionals will support your recovery, physically and psychologically to ensure you’re getting the right care.
Recovery usually happens in stages, starting in the hospital, where your condition is monitored and your future needs are assessed. You may be offered cardiac rehabilitation. You can learn more about cardiac rehabilitation at British Heart Foundation: Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Getting help
Everyone who survives cardiac arrest will experience different challenges, so the advice you receive will be based on your personal needs. Many survivors report physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms in the weeks and months after, which can affect their daily life.
Resuscitation Council UK have a dedicated support after cardiac arrest page for anyone affected by cardiac arrest. Here you will find resources to support your recovery including helplines, where you can talk to a healthcare professional, and peer support groups where you can meet people who have been through a similar experience.
Driving
Your Healthcare Team will advise if there are any driving restrictions you need to be aware of after your cardiac arrest. Any restrictions will be based on the cause of your cardiac arrest, it’s impact on your health and the treatment you have received.
Returning to work
Many people are able to return to work after having a cardiac arrest, but how quickly will depend on your health and the kind of work you do.
Your healthcare team will provide a more detailed prediction of how long it will be before you can return to work. You may find it helpful to have a discussion with your employer who can support your return to work based on your individual needs. Sudden Cardiac arrest UK provide information for those planning their return to work after cardiac arrest.
Prevention
Your healthcare team will advise you on preventing another cardiac arrest. This may include having an implantable cardiac device that can monitor abnormal heart rhythms and provide initial treatment to stop them, a medication assessment, or preventing conditions that can cause cardiac arrest, such as heart disease.
A healthy diet and exercise are good for your health. Your healthcare team will advise when it’s safe to start exercising again and if you need to make any changes to your diet.