What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a serious and life-threatening medical emergency. During Sudden Cardiac Arrest, heart function stops—abruptly and without warning. This causes a rapid loss of consciousness (fainting). Without immediate treatment with defibrillation (an electric shock to the heart), brain damage and death can occur.¹

The definitions of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and heart attack are completely different. A heart attack is a "plumbing" problem caused by one or more blockages in the heart's blood vessels that prevent proper flow. A person having a heart attack is awake and breathing.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Is Not the Same as a Heart Attack

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest is defined as an electrical problem, caused by an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that prevents the heart from pumping blood to the brain and vital organs. A person experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest is unconscious and not breathing.

Factors such as high blood pressure or heart disease increase the risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest. It’s not uncommon for a person to have a heart problem and not be aware of it until after Sudden Cardiac Arrest has occurred.

Did you know? Every 39 seconds, someone dies from Sudden Cardiac Arrest

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