Cardiac Arrest Symptoms

Heart disease in the United States is the number one killer.  Everyone should know the symptoms of cardiac arrest.  A symptom of cardiac arrest is chest pain.  Usually the discomfort of the pain is in the middle of the chest that either goes away and then returns or last more than a few minutes.  Shortness of breath is a symptom of cardiac arrest.   You can have shortness of breath either with our without chest pain.  Other symptoms of cardiac arrest could be pain in the back, jaw, neck or both arms.  Nausea, being light headed or breaking out in a cold sweat are also signs of cardiac arrest.  Symptoms of jaw or back pain, nausea or shortness of breath are usually experienced more by women than men.  

The chest pain symptom is a major sign of cardiac arrest.  The elderly and those with diabetes may have little or no chest pain.  The doctors call the no sign of chest pain a silent heart attack.  The chest pain could be mild or severe like bad indigestion, heavy pressure, something heavy lying on your chest, tight band around your chest, or squeezing.  The pain can move from your chest to your arms, back, stomach, shoulder, jaw or teeth.  It could be felt only in one part of your body also.  This discomfort may last twenty minutes or longer.

If someone does go into cardiac immediately give them CPR and prompt defibrillation.  A serious medical emergency is cardiac arrest.  Take heed to the above signs and call 911 or go to the hospital immediately.