Emergency Care for Cardiac Arrest in Central California

Sudden cardiac arrest is a serious, life-threatening condition in which the heart stops beating. It’s a health emergency that requires immediate medical attention. If someone you know is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, call 911 right away.

Emergency departments at Dignity Health Central California specialize in delivering the latest treatment for all types of cardiovascular conditions.

We offer immediate care for sudden cardiac arrest in Central California at these locations:

 

Cardiac Arrest Symptoms

The symptoms of cardiac arrest are obvious. When a person’s heart stops beating, they:

  • Become unconscious and may collapse
  • Will not respond to voices, sounds, or pain
  • Stop breathing

Call 911 if you’re with someone who loses consciousness and is not breathing.

 

What Causes Cardiac Arrest?

The main cause of cardiac arrest is an irregular or abnormal heart rhythm. Signs that occur before cardiac arrest can include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid or erratic pulse
  • Fainting
  • Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or woozy
  • Unusually slow pulse (fewer than 60 beats per minute)
  • Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
  • Feeling like your heart is pounding

Irregular heart rhythms that can result in cardiac arrest may either cause the heart to quiver or beat too fast to maintain a normal rhythm.

Other factors that may lead to cardiac arrest include:

  • Drug abuse
  • Severe dehydration
  • Side effects of medication
  • Enlarged heart
  • Prior heart attack or heart surgery that left scarred cardiac tissue
  • Conditions such as Long QT syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Take a step towards preventing a heart problem with our online heart risk assessment.

 

Cardiac Arrest Treatment at Dignity Health Central California

Treatment and prevention depends on the underlying cause, but initially includes:

  • Calling 911 for an emergency response team
  • Starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • Use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) 

The best way to prevent sudden cardiac arrest is to work closely with your primary care provider to treat and manage any known electrical cardiac conditions and other heart problems.

Talk about any medications you’re currently taking to correct a heart rhythm disorder. You should also follow a heart-healthy lifestyle to prevent heart failure and avoid illicit drugs. Together with your doctor, you can create a strategy to keep your heart healthy.

Dignity Health Central California offer emergency care for sudden cardiac arrest in Bakersfield, Merced, San Andreas, and Stockton, CA.