cause cardiac arrest.
Commotio cordis, disruption of heart rhythm after a blow to the area directly over the heart at a key time during a heartbeat cycle can also lead to cardiac arrest.
Although commotion cordis is rare, it typically occurs in boys and young men during sports.
Cardiac Arrest Symptoms
Sudden loss of responsiveness
The person doesn’t respond, even if you tap them hard on the shoulders or ask loudly if they’re OK. The person doesn’t move, speak, blink or otherwise react.
No normal breathing
The person isn’t breathing or is only gasping for air.
RELATED: 7 Very Early Signs You’ll Have A Heart Attack
What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack occurs when the arteries supplying the heart become blocked. The first branches of the aorta sit on top of the heart like a crown. They’re called coronary arteries. If you block these branches, the heart doesn’t get enough blood. The result is a myocardial infarction, which is the technical term for a heart attack.
Heart attacks are more common than cardiac arrest.
“People who are at risk for heart attacks are people who have a family history of heart attack, having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, cigarette smoking – the major risk factors we always discuss,” Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of Atria New York City and clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, previously told CNN.
Heart attacks can be fatal, however, they do not automatically lead to death. In fact, immediate emergency medical help can