The first and often only symptom of Sudden Cardiac Arrest is loss of consciousness (fainting) due to lack of blood to the brain. At the same time, no heartbeat or pulse can be felt.
While there are often no warning signs before Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs, some of these symptoms may come before Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
- Fatigue or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
Some people who are said to have died from a "massive heart attack" may instead have died from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Chances of Survival
The definitions of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and heart attack are completely different. A heart attack is a "plumbing" problem caused by one or more blockages in the heart's blood vessels that prevent proper flow. A person having a heart attack is awake and breathing.
