For: Cardiac Arrest
The cardiac arrest screening can help detect issues leading up to cardiac arrest like an abnormal heart beat. The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems can cause abnormal heart rhythm, called arrhythmia. There are different types of arrhythmia. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or it can stop beating altogether. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart develops an arrhythmia that causes it to stop beating. This is different than a heart attack, where the heart usually continues to beat but blood flow to the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest screening is able to detect these abnormalities early on to prevent high risk.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2010 heart disease will cost the United States $316.4 billion. This total includes the cost of healthcare services, medications, and lost productivity. Cardiovascular disease (which includes heart disease and stroke) claims more lives each year than the next four leading causes of death combined - cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents and diabetes. Many steps, however, can be taken towards heart disease prevention, like regular health screenings.
Learn more about other health conditions and how you can prevent the risks associated with them through a health screening.
What are the Warning Signs of Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest symptoms are sudden and drastic. They can include:
Sometimes, other signs and symptoms precede sudden cardiac arrest. These may include fatigue, fainting, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations or vomiting. But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.
How do I know if I’m At Risk?
There are several heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. More often, a life-threatening arrhythmia develops in a person with a pre-existing heart condition, such as:
You are also at risk if:
Because sudden cardiac arrest is so often linked with coronary artery disease, the same factors that put you at risk of coronary artery disease may also put you at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. These include:
Other factors that may increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest include:
Prevention:
Some risk factors are not controllable, including family history of heart disease, increasing age, and male gender. As with most heart and circulatory system problems, however, your risk of developing sudden cardiac arrest lessens with a healthy lifestyle. Some of the key factors in maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle are:
If you have any of the above risk factors, then get screened today!
Screenings Recommended:
Electrocardiogram