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Cardiac & Vascular Health
Question #19426
62 days ago
136

sign of cardiac arrest - #19426

Raghav

I am really worried because my dad suddenly collapsed last night during dinner, and we don’t know what was going on. He’s 67 and kinda had a few issues in the past, like high blood pressure, but we never thought it would get so serious. A few minutes after he sat down, he just slumped over his plate. We called 911, and while we were waiting, I noticed he wasn’t breathing like at all... or at least it didn’t look like it. The paramedics arrived really quick, and they started doing CPR, which was terrifying to watch. I feel like I should know more about the sign of cardiac arrest because there was absolutely no warning. Just before the collapse, he said he felt a little lightheaded, but I thought it was just something minor. I mean, how can you tell if someone is showing a sign of cardiac arrest? Are there any early warning sign of cardiac arrest that we should’ve noticed? This whole thing has been super overwhelming, and I want to make sure I'm aware of what to look for next time or in case this happens again. I'm just really hoping we can prevent this in the future. Any advice would help!

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Doctors' responses

Cardiac arrest can indeed be sudden and unexpected, which makes it very concerning and difficult to predict. Generally, the most immediate sign of cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of responsiveness. If someone is not responsive and does not breathe normally—meaning they’re not gasping or breathing irregularly—it’s important to suspect cardiac arrest right away. You mentioned your dad felt lightheaded. Lightheadedness can sometimes precede a cardiac arrest, but it’s not a definitive predictor because it can be associated with less severe issues as well. Other potential indicators prior to cardiac arrest might include chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, or extreme fatigue, but these don’t always appear beforehand and can be easily overlooked as they can be attributed to less severe conditions. In certain cases, like with your dad’s history of high blood pressure, it’s important to carefully manage and monitor those risk factors, as they’re known to increase the risk of cardiac events. If a person collapses and is unresponsive, it’s critical to act swiftly by performing CPR and calling emergency services. The quicker CPR is started, the better, as it keeps blood and oxygen flowing to vital organs until professional help arrives. Keeping up with regular check-ups for him, discussing preventive measures with his healthcare provider, and being educated in CPR can also be beneficial. Remember to pay attention to any new or worsening symptoms and seek medical advice promptly for ongoing management of any existing health issues.

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