Cardiac Arrest Definition & Overview

Definition

Cardiac arrest refers to the loss of heart function. In many cases, it is an expected outcome to a serious illness. Cardiac arrest often results in death.

Sudden cardiac arrest refers to the heart's unexpected stopping of activity due to a potentially reversible cause. Brain death occurs within a few minutes if the situation is not reversed.
Sudden cardiac death refers to an unexpected, heart-related death within one hour from the start of symptoms.

Electrical System of the Heart

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