Symptoms Of Cardiac Arrest

Knowing the symptoms of cardiac arrest could help to save the life of someone close to you. Cardiac arrest symptoms can be immediate and severe, but there are several symptoms that can signal cardiac arrest and help a person to get urgent medical care quickly.

1. Trouble breathing. The person experiencing cardiac arrest may feel sudden, unexplained wheezing or shortness of breath. In some cases, the person may suddenly stop breathing entirely and without warning.
2. Loss of responsiveness. The person experiencing symptoms of cardiac arrest may feel dizzy or suddenly become very tired. He may seem suddenly disoriented. He may not respond to his name or to a tap on the shoulder. He may complain of feeling light-headed or feel as though he is about to faint without any explanation.
3. Loss of consciousness. In some cases, actual loss of consciousness is the first noticeable symptom of cardiac arrest. The person may black out or suddenly collapse during normal activities due to lack of blood flow to the brain.
4. Chest pain. Another symptom of cardiac arrest is chest pain or heart palpitations that seem sudden and severe. The person may feel his heart racing. The heartbeat may become irregular as the heart's electrical system suddenly fails. In some cases, the sufferer may lose his pulse entirely.
5. Vomiting. Some people experience severe nausea just before cardiac arrest. This may be caused by disorientation. Extreme nausea and vomiting can be an early symptom of cardiac arrest that signals a need for immediate medical attention.