Question

What causes cardiac arrest?

Answer 1

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest. Many other cardiac and non cardiac conditions also increase one's risk.

Explanation:

A cardiac arrest happens when the heart stops pumping blood in the body. Another common cause of a sudden cardiac arrest is usually an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. Rapid, erratic electrical impulses cause the ventricles to quiver uselessly instead of pumping blood.

Other causes include major blood loss, lack of oxygen, very low potassium, heart failure and intense physical exercise. A number of inherited disorders may also increase the risk.

Cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, or heart valve disease and the use of recreational drugs such as cocaine may also trigger a cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest becomes more common with age. It affects males more than females.