Cardiac Emergencies: What You Need to Know

Introduction

Cardiac emergencies are life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention. They often involve the heart and blood vessels and can lead to severe complications, including sudden cardiac death. Recognizing the symptoms and acting quickly can save lives.

Common Cardiac Emergencies

1. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

   • Cause: Blockage of a coronary artery, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
   • Symptoms:
     • Chest pain or discomfort (often radiating to the left arm, neck, or jaw).
     • Shortness of breath.
     • Nausea, vomiting, sweating.
     • Feeling of impending doom.
   • First Aid: Call emergency services immediately, chew aspirin (if not allergic), and stay calm.

2. Cardiac Arrest

   • Cause: Sudden loss of heart function due to electrical disturbances in the heart.
   • Symptoms:
     • Loss of consciousness.
     • No pulse, no breathing.
     • Cyanosis (bluish skin due to lack of oxygen).
   • First Aid: Perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if available.

3. Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeat)

   • Types:
     • Atrial Fibrillation: Fast and irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke.
     • Ventricular Tachycardia/Fibrillation: Life-threatening rhythms requiring immediate defibrillation.
   • Symptoms: Palpitations, dizziness, fainting.
   • First Aid: Seek emergency medical help, especially if accompanied by chest pain or loss of consciousness.

4. Hypertensive Emergency

   • Cause: Extremely high blood pressure (usually >180/120 mmHg) leading to organ damage.
   • Symptoms: Severe headache, vision changes, confusion, shortness of breath.
   • First Aid: Seek immediate medical care; do not lower blood pressure too quickly without medical supervision.

5. Aortic Dissection

   • Cause: A tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the main artery of the body.
   • Symptoms: Sudden severe chest pain that radiates to the back, syncope, low blood pressure.
   • First Aid: Immediate emergency medical attention.

Conclusion

Cardiac emergencies require swift action. Learning CPR, recognizing symptoms, and understanding appropriate first-aid measures can be life-saving. Always call emergency services promptly for any suspected cardiac event.

Source recommendations

1. American Heart Association Guidelines on Emergency Cardiovascular Care

1. https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines
2. https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/2020-aha-guidelines-for-cpr-and-ecc
3. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001194
4. https://international.heart.org/en/courses/2020-handbook-of-emergency-cardiovascular-care-for-healthcare-providers
5. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-arrest

2. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines on Advanced Life Support

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33773825/
2. https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(21)00063-0/fulltext
3. https://cprguidelines.eu/assets/guidelines/European-Resuscitation-Council-Guidelines-2021-Ad.pdf
4. https://www.erc.edu/courses/advanced-life-support
5. https://cprguidelines.eu/guidelines-2021

3. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Acute Cardiovascular Care

1. https://www.escardio.org/Congresses-Events/Acute-Cardiovascular-Care
2. https://academic.oup.com/ehjacc
3. https://www.escardio.org/Sub-specialty-communities/Association-for-Acute-CardioVascular-Care-(ACVC)
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35040931/
5. https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Scientific-Documents/Acute-Cardiovascular-Care