Cardiac arrest: Debunking common misconceptions

Every year in France, some 50,000 people are victims ofcardiac arrest. Despite this, misconceptions about the condition persist. Here are just a few of those misconceptions.

Misconception #1: “Cardiac arrest and heart attack are the same thing” – . ❌
false

Cardiac arrest and heart attack are not synonymous, although they are often confused, they differ significantly. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating suddenly or beats chaotically, as a result of an electrical problem. The heart stops sending blood and oxygen to the brain and other organs. Conversely, a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is interrupted, usually due to a blockage in the coronary arteries, but the heart generally continues to beat. It’s a circulatory problem.

Symptoms and reaction

Cardiac arrest usually occurs without warning signs. However, you can recognize a person in cardiac arrest if he or she presents :

• Loss of consciousness
• Absence ofbreathing or inefficient, slow and noisy breathing movements
• No reaction to external stimuli

In such cases, every second counts. It is imperative to follow the
chain of survival
to maximize the victim’s chances of survival: 1. Call, 2. Massage and 3. Defibrillate.

A heart attack may be preceded by symptoms such as chest pain, excessive sweating, pain in the left arm (or both), shortness of breath, dizziness or nausea. As soon as symptoms appear, call the emergency services (SAMU 15 or 112). In some cases, a heart attack leads to cardiac arrest.

Myth #2: “Cardiac arrest only affects the elderly” – .❌ false

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and affect everyone, whether men or women, young or old, sporty or not-so-active.

However, cardiac arrest in children is rare, and most often occurs as a result of asphyxia such as airway obstruction, infection or lung disease, drowning, choking or shock.

Although the risk of sudden cardiac arrest increases with age, it’s essential to recognize that age is not the only determining factor.

In conclusion, demystifying these preconceived ideas is essential to a better understanding of cardiac arrest, its risk factors and the measures to be taken in an emergency.

Don’t wait for an emergency situation to inform you. Knowledge is the key to prevention and effective response.

In our next article, we’ll take a look at common misconceptions about cardiac massage and defibrillators.

Do you know of any other preconceived ideas about cardiac arrest?