Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac Arrest
(Source: http://www.sjm.com/conditions/condition.aspx?name=Sudden+Cardiac+Arrest )

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) suddenly stop beating normally and develop what is called ventricular defibrillation. VF is very fast, chaotic heart rate in the lower chambers of the heart, When the ventricles defribillate, they do not contract normally , so they cannot effectively pump blood, The instant VF begins, effective blood pumping stops. VF quickly becomes more erratic, resulting in sudden cardiac arrest.

Risk Factors
(Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sudden-cardiac-arrest/DS00764/DSECTION=4 )

Because sudden cardiac arrest is so often intertwined 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:
§ A family history of heart disease
§ Smoking
§ High blood pressure
§ High blood cholesterol
§ Obesity
§ Diabetes
§ A sedentary lifestyle
In addition to a personal or family history of heart disease — including heart rhythm disorders, congenital heart defects, congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy — other factors that may increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest include:
§ Low output of blood from you heart (ejection fraction)
§ Previous episode of cardiac arrest
§ Previous heart attack
§ Low output of blood from your heart (ejection fraction)
§ Previous episode of cardiac arrest
§ Markedly changes blood vessels of potassium, and magnesium – minerals called electrolytes that need to be properly balanced in order to maintain vital organ functions, including that of the heart
§ Hyperthyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid gland produces too much of the hhormone thyroxine, speeding up your metabolism and potentially causing arrhythmia
§ Pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries of your lungs
§ Taking drigs that affect your heart rhythm, such as prescription anti-arrhythmic or pro-arrhythmic drugs, or over the counter medications, such ass pseudoephedrine-containing cold medicines
§ Using illicit drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines