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Regarding current statistics, cardiac arrest becomes a public health issue with widespread incidence and severe impact on human health and well-being worldwide. Particularly in Thailand, cardiac arrest has killed approximately 50,000 people each year. Cardiac arrest is defined as a sudden loss of blood flow resulting from the failure of the heart to pump effectively which disrupts heart’s pumping action and stops blood flow to the entire body. If not treated immediately, sudden cardiac arrest can potentially lead to death. In spite of the fact that sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone who has no known heart disease. However, a life-threatening conditions usually develops in patients with preexisting, possibly undiagnosed heart conditions. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of cardiac arrest. It is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries caused by atherosclerosis which is the build-up of cholesterol and fatty deposits (called plaques) inside the arteries. Limited blood flow to the heart causes ischemia (a lack of oxygen) of the heart’s muscle cells, leading to myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest.
Statistics indicates that out of 100 cases, 40 cases develop sudden death due to a sudden loss of blood flow caused by coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. Other cardiac conditions that contribute to cardiac arrest often include electrical problems in the heart and enlarged or thickening heart’s muscles (cardiomyopathy) which is the major cause of sudden death in young adults and athletes.
In spite the fact that cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning, aside from sudden collapse, signs of cardiac are often unaware of, these include:
Since sudden cardiac arrest is firmly associated with coronary artery disease, risk factors of cardiac arrest especially in young adults include:
Screening tests for people aged over 40 or people who are at risk of cardiovascular diseases: Screening and diagnostic tests include chest X-ray scan, electrocardiography (EKG), cardiac stress test e.g. exercise stress test, echocardiography, stress echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography (CT) for calcium scoring to determine the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque that blocks or narrows the arteries. If myocardia infarction is suspected, additional test or procedure is further required, such as coronary computed tomography angiography with the injection of contrast media or cardiac catheterization using a catheter – a long thin tube through groin or wrist.
Screening tests for people aged below 40 or people who have no risk factors of cardiovascular diseases: screening tests usually involve chest X-ray scan, electrocardiography (EKG)/ Holter EKG to determine abnormal heart rhythms and echocardiography to diagnose congenital heart diseases.