Introduction
Cardiovascular diseases affect a significant number of people and cause numerous health complications, leading to a rapid deterioration of health. A cardiac arrest is one of the most common disorders observed in patients with CVD (Sanghavi et al. 2015). By introducing options for monitoring patients’ health rates, promoting healthy lifestyles, and educating patients, one can minimize the threat of a cardiac arrest in vulnerable populations.
Cardiac Arrest: Causes and Symptoms
A cardiac arrest occurs very fast and unexpectedly, which makes it extraordinarily difficult to manage the problem immediately. As a result, a cardiac arrest usually leads to death unless it happens in a clinical setting where a defibrillator and other necessary tools are available (National Institute of Health 2016). According to the National Institute of Health (2016) (NIH), the arrhythmias in a patient’s heart is the leading cause of a cardiac arrest in most patients. Thus, physical exhaustion, inherent disorders, and emotional distress can be listed among the key contributors to the development of a cardiac arrest in most cases (National Institute of Health 2016). While controlling these factors is rather difficult for a patient, strategies for avoiding key threats and studying one’s family history of heart issues can be advised.
Due to the flaws in the electrical system that defines the functioning of the cardiac muscle, the rate of a patient’s heartbeat changes quickly, often involving a significantly more rapid frequency (Sanghavi et al. 2015). As a result, a patient develops a cardiac arrest. The subject matter is not to be confused with a heart attack, which takes place once the flow of blood to a patient’s heart ceases (National Institute of Health 2016). Thus, a cardiac arrest is extremely difficult to address timely unless a healthcare expert is in the vicinity.
The symptoms of a cardiac arrest are not quite numerous and easily discernable. Typically, the loss of consciousness follows a cardiac arrest. In addition, during a cardiac arrest, pulse is absent (National Institute of Health 2016). Patients often feel slight dizziness immediately before a cardiac arrest (National Institute of Health 2016). However, even knowing the described symptoms, one is hardly capable of managing a cardiac arrest unless it takes place in a clinical setting.
Prevention Strategies and Treatment Options for Cardiac Arrest
In order to address the problem of cardiac arrest and its random nature, several approaches have been established. Monitoring patients that have developed a heart disease is currently used as the main tool for preventing a cardiac arrest in people (National Institute of Health 2016). Population groups that are defined as vulnerable to health-related risks are seen as possible victims of a cardiac arrest (National Institute of Health 2016). In their recent article about the methods of managing a cardiac arrest, Sanghavi et al. (2015) explain that the use of communication tools for utilizing the services of a local nursing facility is also seen as a critical step in maintaining the levels of patients’ well-being high. The authors make an important statement about the significance of advanced life support tools.
Additional prevention methods for people that suffer from CVD have also been developed. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is expected to assist in detecting immediate threats to a patient’s heart and, thus allowing a nurse to address a patient’s needs fast (National Institute of Health 2016). Among the most effective treatment methods, one should list surgery and medications (National Institute of Health 2016). With the adoption of the proposed techniques, one is expected to reduce patients’ exposure to threats leading to a cardiac arrest.
Conclusion
The phenomenon of a cardiac arrest continues to be one of the leading causes of death in aging people. Therefore, to manage the threat of a cardiac arrest properly, nurses will need to redesign communication with their patients and introduce the latter to behaviors and strategies that will minimize the probability of a cardiac arrest. As a result, a greater number of cardiac arrests and the subsequent deaths will be averted.
Reference List
National Institute of Health 2016, Sudden cardiac arrest, Web.
Sanghavi, P, Jena, AB, Newhouse, JP & Zaslavsky, AM 2015, ‘Outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated by basic vs advanced life support’, JAMA Internal Medicine, vol. 175, no. 2, pp. 196-204.