Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart stops abruptly. Of Course different things can cause your heart to suddenly stop-an electrocution, for example. But with SCA your heart stops because its electrical signals malfunction. Electrical signals travel down certain pathways in your heart to make it beat correctly. Each signal causes the heart to beat or contract. Unless the person is exercising, a normal heart usually creates about 60-100 signals per minute. SCA occurs when the heart rate is far too slow or, more likely, when the heart rate is much too fast.
Usually a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when there are irregular heartbeats in the heart's lower chambers (ventricles). These irregualr heartbeats are called arrhythmias. The arrhythmia that typically causes SCA is a fast and chaotic rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). When electrical signals are sent too quickly - such as during VF - the heart is unable to pump at all. Instead, the heart muscle lust quivers. Because the heart isn't pumping the blood to the body, the brain very quickly becomes starved for oxygen. This causes the person to lose consciousness.
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Atherosclerosis - blockage of an artery7 with fatty substances, like cholesterol, in your blood. About 90% of adult victims of sudden cardiac death have atherosclerosis in two or more major arteries (coronary arteries)
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Heart Attack - about 75% of sudden cardiac death victims have scarring in their heart muscle from a prior heart attack.
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Other heart problems - when SCA occurs in young adults, other rare heart conditions are likely causes.
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